Wehrstein Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Fischingen, Sulz am Neckar, Germany.

Wehrstein Castle is a ruin perched on a steep ridge at about 480 meters elevation, overlooking the Neckar Valley below. The surviving stone walls stretch across the elevated terrain and reveal several former building complexes and fortified sections.

Around 1100 the lords of Wehrstein are first documented, gifting to Hirsau Abbey; their domain covered the castle, the Wehrstein estate and the villages of Fischingen, Betra and Empfingen, held as a fief that passed from the counts palatine of Tübingen to the Hohenbergs and in 1381 to Austria. In 1643 Bavarian troops almost completely destroyed the castle, which was then rebuilt. Around 1830 the dilapidated structure was demolished, and in 1842 Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen had repairs carried out to halt its decay.

Hikers today visit the ruins to enjoy views across the Neckar Valley and walk among the remaining structures. The fallen walls still show the floor plans and room divisions of the medieval fortress.

The path to the ruins begins in Fischingen village and follows a narrow trail uphill to the ridge. Visitors should expect uneven ground and lack of safety rails, so sturdy shoes and caution are important.

The Wehrstein coat of arms, a golden anchor, is said to recall a member of the family who joined Frederick Barbarossa's crusade and was saved from a storm at sea. The family is first documented around 1100, when Marquard von Wehrstein and his wife Gepa gave to Hirsau Monastery.