The Schenkenburg was built in the period between 1220 and 1250 probably by the gender of the taverns of Zell, which were also eponymous for the village of the same name. They were Ministeriale of the Counts of Freiburg and took for them the mining interests in the district of Wittichen true. Other castles that had the taverns and which also served to protect the mining district were the castle Wittichenstein and the stables Schenkenzell.
The castle went into the rule of Geroldsecker at the beginning of the 14th century, the reasons are unknown. It is possible that disputes broke out between Count Egen and Konrad II of Freiburg and Schenk Burkhard, whereby Burkhard was also captured, according to documents. Burkhard sat on the castle Wittichenstein until 1304, and also the other gift shops of Schenkenzell are only proven until 1299 at the castle Schenkenzell. From 1301 the castle was then owned by the Geroldsecker, 1309 it was listed among the castles of the Geroldsecker. In 1312, Wittichenstein Castle was also owned by Geroldsecker, as they also act as feudal lords there. Thus, the entire rule of donations of Schenkenzell was probably in the hands of Geroldsecker.
In 1433, during the Geroldsecker War of Succession, the castle was badly damaged, even in 1436 was built at the castles Schenkenzell and Romberg and the monastery Wittichen.
Gangolf Herr zu Geroldseck and Schenkenzell came in growing economic difficulties, he had to sell the entire property in 1498 Kinzigtal. As a buyer, the Counts of Fürstenberg appear, they were able to acquire a large part of the rule for 1400 guilders, two years later they also got the castle Wittichenstein for another 920 guilders. The castle went in 1513 as a hereditary man loan to the Junker Hans von Weitingen. However, his successors were guilty of a breach of faith, so that Count Wilhelm von Fürstenberg had to storm his own castle in 1534 and thereby destroyed it. It was not rebuilt, but remained a handsome ruin to this day. [1]