Burg Berlichingen

Burg Berlichingen stands in the village of Berlichingen, part of Schöntal in the Hohenlohekreis. It began as a water fortress in the 13th century with a tall stone house of three storeys. The lords of Berlichingen made it their family seat and held it as a fief of Hohenlohe from 1292 and later of Würzburg from 1347. The knight Götz von Berlichingen is thought to have been born here around 1480. By the 17th century the place had become a more modern schloss, though it remains privately owned.

The site is worth visiting for its long connection with the Berlichingen family and their most famous member. Götz’s life as a robber-baron and imperial knight gave the family lasting renown. The building also shows how a medieval water castle evolved into a later schloss. Its position on the edge of the village lets visitors see both the old stone core and the later additions.

Visitors find a compact group of buildings surrounded by wide moats. The oldest part is the three-storey keep with thick walls and small windows. Later wings and a gatehouse were added in the 17th century, giving the courtyard a more domestic look. The moats still hold water, reflecting the old defences. Beyond the walls lie meadows and the gentle hills of Hohenlohe.