Burg Bartelstein

Schloss Bartelstein stands on a limestone crag above the left bank of the Danube near Scheer. Built in the 11th or 12th century by the knight Ortolf von Bartelstein, the first fortress occupied a neighbouring rock and gave its name to the site: executions once took place here with the ‘barte’, an axe-like weapon. After the Thirty Years’ War destroyed the second castle in the 17th century, a smaller house rose on the old foundations in the 18th century. It served as a prison before a Scheer paper-mill owner bought it in 1832 and kept it in private hands. The present villa was created in 1906 by the Stuttgart architects Ludwig Eisenlohr and Carl Weigle in the Jugendstil manner. Two towers mark the corners: a round tower in the north-west and a square one set diagonally in the south-east. The three irregular wings enclose a small courtyard, their one- and two-storey sections covered by hipped roofs. Experts recognise the building as a monument of national importance, though recent leaks in the roof have left parts in need of repair. Visitors enter through the courtyard and see the mix of medieval stonework and early 20th-century detailing. The interior once held Jugendstil fittings, though these have been removed. Outside, the Danube flows past the limestone base, and the surrounding woods on the river bluffs frame views across the valley. The site remains privately owned and is not open daily, so those wishing to see it must arrange a visit in advance.