Volksburg

The Volksburg, also known as Stein, Musburg or Miesburg, was a medieval hilltop castle perched 485 metres above sea level on the left bank of the Starzel. It stands 750 metres west of Stein, a district of Hechingen in the Zollernalbkreis of Baden-Württemberg. Archaeologists believe the site may have begun as a prehistoric rampart before becoming a medieval refuge castle. The core of the fortress was roughly circular, defended by a main ditch and three-sided ramparts and trenches. The parish church in Stein once held the property. Little remains today except a low mound of rubble and fragments of walls that probably belonged to a keep or residential tower. The surrounding earthworks still show the original lines of the ditches and ramparts. Visitors can walk the grassy slopes and see how the defences once encircled the hilltop. The site offers quiet views across the Starzel valley and towards the surrounding Swabian Alb. The ruins lie on private farmland, so walkers should stay on the marked paths. The nearest car park is at the edge of Stein village. Interpretive signs explain the likely layout of the former castle. The area is popular with local hikers and cyclists who follow the Starzel cycleway past the foot of the hill.