Burg Schadeck

Burg Schadeck is a castle ruin built on a steep rock face above the Neckar River in Neckarsteinach, featuring two defensive towers and a wall structure. The fortification comprises thick stone construction tightly integrated into the mountainside to guard the river passage below.

The castle was founded in 1230 and served various noble families and church authorities until its abandonment in the late 15th century. Multiple changes in ownership marked its long existence as a strategic outpost in the Neckar valley.

The fortress represented control over the Neckar valley and shaped the region's identity for centuries. Visitors today can still see how its stonework dominated the landscape from multiple viewpoints below.

The ruins are freely accessible via a hiking trail from Neckarsteinach and can be visited anytime. The path is steep and requires sturdy footwear, but rewards visitors with valley views.

This was the last of four castles built in Neckarsteinach because other ridge positions had already been claimed. The narrow mountain crest left little room for additional fortifications.