Burg Tölz, Medieval castle ruin in Bad Tölz, Germany.
Burg Tölz is a castle ruin whose remains sit on a high rocky outcrop above the Isar valley, positioned beneath the current parish church of Bad Tölz. Archaeological discoveries revealed masonry sections with arrow slits when the site was excavated during school construction in the 1800s.
Heinrich von Tollenz founded the castle around 1180, which later fell under Wittelsbach control when the Tölz family died out in 1265. A major fire devastated the fortress in 1453, after which Duke Albrecht III allowed the ruins to remain accessible to the public.
The parish church Mariä Himmelfahrt now occupies the former castle grounds and shapes the character of the place. The church tower may have originated from the castle's medieval keep, linking the two structures together.
The site is easily reached on foot from Bad Tölz and offers views across the Isar landscape. Visitors should know that the ruins can become slippery in wet weather, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
After the destruction, the stone quarry on the castle grounds became an important source of building material for the town's residents for many years. This mining activity left deep marks on the landscape that remain visible today.
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