Burg Fürsteneck (Butschbach)

The ruins of Burg Fürsteneck stand on a rocky spur 278 metres above the Rench valley at the mouth of the Bottenau valley, between the villages of Butschbach and Bottenau in the Ortenaukreis. Built late in the 12th century by the Zähringen counts, it appears in a 1225 record as a stone fortress. In 1286 King Rudolf I installed Friedrich and Egino of Fürstenberg as castellans, and later the bishop of Strasbourg took possession. Around 1635 the Thirty Years’ War left the castle in ruins.

Archaeologists have identified the outline of a large oval courtyard, the remains of a keep and two outbuildings, a cistern shaft and a curtain wall. Only the foundations survive today, but they still mark the site’s medieval plan. The counts of Zähringen chose the spur for its commanding view over the valley and the trade route below. Their choice shaped the castle’s short but eventful history.

Visitors walk among grassy mounds that trace the former walls and towers. The quiet hilltop offers long views across the Rench valley to the Black Forest hills. A short path leads from the car park to the ruins, where interpretive signs explain the castle’s development. The peaceful surroundings contrast with the site’s turbulent past.