Liebenzell Castle

Burg Liebenzell stands on Schlossberg above Bad Liebenzell in the Black Forest. Built in the 12th century by the counts of Calw, it once ranked as the most important castle in Württemberg’s Black Forest. The counts of Eberstein took control in 1196, and the fortress was enlarged between 1220 and 1230. Twice destroyed—in the 16th century and again in 1692—it was rebuilt in 1954. Today the castle belongs to the International Forum of Liebenzell Castle and serves as a youth training centre. The irregular pentagonal walls enclose a mighty shield wall and a square bergfried with a garderobe. The great hall, or Palas, shows ornamental ogival openings in its stonework. The six-storey bergfried rises 32 metres, with a six-metre entrance, two-metre-thick walls and a floor area of about nine by nine metres. The castle’s layout reflects its medieval strength and later adaptations. Visitors find a youth centre and a restaurant inside the fortification. The hilltop position offers wide views over the surrounding Black Forest valleys. The restored buildings and the shield wall remain impressive examples of medieval military architecture. The castle’s history and present use combine to give a clear picture of its changing roles across centuries.