Schloss ob Ellwangen

The castle above Ellwangen served from 1460 the princely provosts of the prince provost Ellwangen as a residential and royal seat and from 1802/1803 to 1842 as electoral or royal residence. It was originally built around 1200 as a fortified castle of Ellwangen monastery, which at that time was already rich in wealth.

The extensive complex is located at about 505 m above sea level. NN on a hill above the city center of Ellwangen in the midst of orchards. Together with the Schoenberg Church, the castle forms a landmark of Ellwangen that can be seen from afar.

Source: Wikipedia

 Note:
The Schlossmuseum Ellwangen (16 rooms with exhibitions in the State Rooms) is in principle also without a guide for individual visitors to the opening hours to visit!

General opening hours: (as of Sept. 2017)
Tuesday to Friday: 14.00 - 17.00
Saturday: 10.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 17.00
Sunday and public holidays 10.30 - 16.30
(Changes reserved)
Last admission 30 minutes before closing!

Older letter writers still know the castle gate of Ellwangen from a 50-pfennig definitive stamp of the Federal Post Office: in 1967, the view was depicted on the blue stamp.

The castle towers over the town, then as now. Once the magnificent residence of the prince-provosts and later of the kings of Württemberg, the extensive complex in the middle of orchards now houses several state and district authorities as well as the castle museum. There is less pomp today, but the people have always been critical of that. When the king once resided there, his banner flew over the castle. The people of Ellwangen used to say: "The rag hangs outside, so the rags are inside!"