Burg Burrach

Burg Burrach stands on the Burrauberg hill in the forest above the village of Wald. The site sits at about 650 metres above sea level on a steep slope that once overlooked a drained fishpond. A small stream called the Burraubach flows past the bottom of the wooded area, joining the Kehlbach further down. The ruined castle once belonged to the lords of Reischach, whose name survives in the nearby hamlet of Reischach. After the family moved away, the fortress was torn down and by 1241 it was already recorded as a Burgstall, or earthworks. The builders of the castle remain unknown, but records show the Reischachs held their lands as a fief of the Cistercian monastery at Wald. When the monks expanded their buildings in later centuries, much of the stone from Burrach was reused. In the 1930s a few scattered stones were still found during forestry work, but little else survives above ground. The steep slope and the remains of the fishpond give a sense of how the stronghold once commanded the valley. Visitors walk through quiet woodland paths to reach the hilltop site. The ground is uneven and covered with moss and fallen leaves, marking where walls once stood. From the highest point there are long views over the surrounding countryside. The nearby Burraumühle, still used as a house, adds to the historic atmosphere. The whole area feels remote, yet the traces of the old castle remain visible to those who look closely.