Burgstall Eschenlohe, Medieval castle ruins in Eschenlohe, Germany

Burgstall Eschenlohe is a ruined hilltop castle on a spur at 665 m above sea level on the Burgstallberg, also called Vestbühl, in Eschenlohe. The site preserves the main rampart, two ditches with wall traces, foundation remains and tunnels. The Chapel of St. Nicholas now stands on the former castle mound, built with stones from the ruins.

The settlement was founded in the mid-12th century by the counts of Eschenlohe and first appears in written records in 1157. The family used this fortified location to maintain control over the surrounding lands.

The name Eschenlohe comes from the counts who built the castle here in the mid-12th century; a "Werinher de Eccillohe" is recorded in 1157. The hill itself is called Vestbühl, Vestbühel or Vestbichel. The chapel of St. Nikolaus now stands on the former castle mound, built with stones from the old ruin.

The site is reachable via marked hiking trails and is located in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district of Bavaria. Wear sturdy footwear since the path goes uphill and the remains sit on an elevated spot.

Stone blocks from the original castle were later reused to build the St. Nicholas Chapel, which also stands on the hill today. This shows how local materials were recycled into new structures over the centuries.