Burg Altgutenstein

Burg Altgutenstein stands as the ruined remains of a spur castle above the left bank of the Danube near Sigmaringen. It rises on a wooded slope at 640 metres, directly opposite the village of Gutenstein. The site is reached by a short climb from the riverside path and is open at all times. The castle once guarded the narrow Danube valley where the river bends sharply. Its position gave it control over an important medieval route. The castle was built in the 12th century by the Lords of Gutenstein and first mentioned in 1225. Konrad von Magenbuch lived there between 1345 and 1353. By the mid-16th century the buildings had already fallen into ruin. All that survives today is a small section of wall and the foundations of a keep measuring roughly 4.5 by 5.5 metres. Archaeologists have found medieval pottery fragments around the site. Visitors walk through grass and bracken to the scattered stones of the former stronghold. The most obvious remnant is a low rectangular platform marking the keep’s footprint. From the edge of the clearing there are wide views across the Danube valley and up to the castle hill itself. The quiet woodland setting and the river’s flow below create a peaceful atmosphere.