ムルハルトの洞窟・トップ20

Situated in a scenic location (390 m above sea level), Waldenstein Castle dominates the beautiful Wieslauf Valley. The castle, with its walls up to 3 m thick, suggests a certain importance in earlier times. The property and the surrounding area belonged to the Hohenstaufen dynasty; when Württemberg assumed control is unknown. However, Count Ulrich I of Württemberg appears to have been the overlord of the castle as early as 1251. Around 1420, Waldenstein Castle was then described as the property of Württemberg, which, however, frequently mortgaged its bailiwick. After the Rudersberg district was established, Count Ulrich V granted Waldenstein Castle, including gardens, meadows, pastures, and fishing waters, to his court master, Antony von Emershofen, in 1456. The feudal services were the responsibility of the surrounding villages such as Schlechtbach, Steinenberg, Rudersberg, and Michelau, which redeemed themselves for 720 guilders in 1590. The Emershofen family remained on the Waldenstein for over a hundred years. Hans and Gerung von Emershofen are known by name. The latter was the bailiff of Winnenden and stabbed a farmer while trading oats. After this crime, he fled to the commandery of the Teutonic Order in Winnenden. The sub-bailiff of Schorndorf then took over the property. In 1551, Duke Christoph enfeoffed Chr. Waldauf, already known as Christoph von Waldenstein, with the Waldenstein, who was succeeded by his son in 1571. Around 1586, we encounter a line of the von Gaisberg family. In the 17th century, the von Göllnitz family acquired the estate, and in 1761, the widow of the court physician Riecke of Stuttgart owned it as a Kunkellehen. In 1792, the property was sold by the Chamber Clerk's Office to the municipality of Rudersberg. Some of the noblemen who named themselves after the Waldenstein belonged to the class of dynasts. Special mention should be made of Konrad von Waldenstein, who was part of Count Ulrich II of Württemberg's entourage around 1720. The Lords of Gaisberg apparently owned Waldenstein only for a short time. The following episode is related to this noble family: At the end of the 16th century, the plague raged in Germany. Anna von Gaisberg, who had married a Baron von Holtz and was staying in Welzheim, wanted to escape the epidemic. She sought shelter at the castle with her parents, but was not allowed in for fear of bringing the terrible disease. On November 1, 1597, she gave birth to a boy outside the protective castle walls, near a well belonging to the castle – the later famous Generalfeldzeugmeister Georg Fr. von Holtz. Since the 17th century, representatives of the lower nobility and commoners were also enfeoffed with Waldenstein.

The hilltop castle was built between 1230 and 1231 by Margrave Hermann V of Baden, who, like his brother, was a loyal supporter of the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II. It is said to have been closely related to Ebersberg Castle, built at the same time in what is now the Auenwald forest, and the upper castle in Besigheim. The dimensions, furnishings, and existing stonemasonry marks of the three castles are identical. In the Middle Ages, administrative centers were usually located in castles. Reichenberg Castle, for example, was also a so-called ministerial castle. The knights Wolfram and Berthold von Reichenberg are mentioned as early as 1230. Reichenberg was therefore the official seat and thus also the administrative center of the surrounding areas. From 1293 onwards, the Sturmfeder von Oppenweiler family resided in the castle as ministerials. In the 19th century, the castle was the seat of the forestry office of the Kingdom of Württemberg, among others. Karl von Schiller, a son of Friedrich Schiller, worked there as a district forester from 1822 to 1833. In 1888, the castle was leased to the Samaritan Foundation, which operated a social facility there to care for people with disabilities. In 1929, the Samaritan Foundation acquired Grafeneck Castle near Gomadingen and relocated the home there. In 1930, the castle was leased to the Evangelical Society of Stuttgart, which operated a shelter for Stuttgart prostitutes there until the 1950s, as prostitution had increased sharply in Stuttgart due to the general hardship after the First World War. The Evangelical Society of Stuttgart subsequently converted the castle back into a residential home for people with disabilities.

Warthof

This effort is rewarded with a wonderful view

View of Waldenstein Castle.

Training center from Forest BW. Very well maintained property.

The highlight is hidden in the forest and can be reached by driving down from the Kanapee on Hohe Straße in Lautertal (e.g. to the Wetzsteinstollen). In any case, stop and look around. The remains of the former Wart Castle are still there!

An old town with a castle and half-timbered houses