Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see

Castles

Germany
Bavaria
Lower Franconia

Botenlauben Castle Ruins

Discover
Places to see

Castles

Germany
Bavaria
Lower Franconia

Botenlauben Castle Ruins

Highlight (Segment) • Castle

Botenlauben Castle Ruins

Recommended by 53 hikers

Save

Share

  • More

    • Loading

    Location: Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

    Save

    Share

  • More

    • See hikes here

    Take Me There

    Routes here

    Best Hiking Routes to Botenlauben Castle Ruins

    4.8

    (60)

    173

    hikers

    1. Ruins of Botenlauben Castle – Bad Kissingen Rose Garden loop from Bad Kissingen

    26.5km

    07:25

    500m

    500m

    Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Save

    Hard

    4.6

    (35)

    152

    hikers

    2. Kurtheater – Ruins of Botenlauben Castle loop from Bad Kissingen

    4.82km

    01:25

    140m

    140m

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Save

    Easy

    4.6

    (75)

    283

    hikers

    3. Luitpoldbad Bad Kissingen – Botenlauben Castle Ruins loop from Reiterswiesen

    8.83km

    02:35

    210m

    210m

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Save

    Moderate

    Tips

    May 5, 2025

    Encountering the Restless Spirit of a Traitor at the Botenlauben Castle Ruins

    When the wind whistles around the Botenlauben castle ruins, you can sometimes hear it: rhythmic knocking. At least, that's what a Bad Kissingen legend claims. The knocking is said to be caused by the restless spirit of a nefarious cook who betrayed the castle and its inhabitants during the Peasants' War of 1525.

    The defiant castle, so the legend goes, withstood all attacks by the peasant mobs, but not the betrayal. After a secret signal, a knock on a kitchen board, the castle cook opened a door. The castle was stormed, plundered, and set on fire. Instead of receiving his reward, the cook was murdered.

    The castle ruins high above Bad Kissingen in the Reiterswiesen district are the city's oldest landmark. From here, visitors enjoy a magnificent view of the city, the Rhön mountain range, and the Saale Valley.

    The castle is thought to have been built around 1180. It reached its heyday in 1220, when the crusader and minstrel Otto von Botenlauben and his wife Beatrix von Courtenay settled there.

    The two round keeps in the northwest and southeast of the complex are still striking today. Both can be climbed. Although not much of the original castle remains, one gets a good impression of how powerful this fortress must have once been.

    Translated by Google •

      May 7, 2025

      The castle ruins, high above the town in the Reiterswiesen district, are Bad Kissingen's oldest landmark. From here, visitors enjoy a magnificent view of the town, the Rhön hills, and the Saale Valley. The castle is believed to have been built around 1180. It experienced its heyday in 1220, when the crusader and minstrel Otto von Botenlauben and his wife Beatrix von Courtenay settled here. Famous guests such as the poets Wolfram von Eschenbach, Walther von der Vogelweide, and Reinmar von Zweter were frequent visitors at that time.

      Translated by Google •

        In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

        Sign up for free

        Details

        Informations

        Distance 579 m

        Uphill 40 m

        Downhill 30 m

        Weather

        Powered by AerisWeather

        Today

        Saturday 15 November

        12°C

        6°C

        70 %

        If you start your activity now...

        Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

        Most visited during

        January

        February

        March

        April

        May

        June

        July

        August

        September

        October

        November

        December

        See hikes here

        Take Me There

        Loading

        Location: Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

        Other Popular Places to Check Out

        Botenlauben Castle Ruins

        Sissi Denkmal

        Bad Kissingen Old Town

        Kissinger Gradierwerk

        Wittelsbacher-Turm-Bräu Beer Garden & Restaurant

        Lindesmühlpromenade

        Lollbach Viaduct

        Marienkapelle Bad Kissingen

        Kurhausbad Bad Kissingen

        Sisi Trail

        View of Burg Botenlauben

        View of Bad Kissingen from Altenberg Lookout

        Explore
        RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
        B2B
        PartnersConnectEmbed routes
        Company
        PressWhat's NewPioneersProduct UpdatesAmbassadorsAdventure Hub
        Community
        Help GuidesSupportKomoot Treasure Hunt
        Download the app
        Follow Us on Socials

        © komoot GmbH

        Privacy Policy
        Terms of Service
        Community guidelines
        Vulnerability disclosure program
        Imprint
        Information for law enforcement