Schlüsselburg Markgröningen

The Schlüsselburg once stood on a steep spur above the Glemstal valley, overlooking the small settlement of Talhausen near Markgröningen. Built around the 14th century, its origins remain unclear, though it may have belonged to local nobles like the Rietpurers or even Konrad von Schlüsselberg. The site was later abandoned and its ruins cleared in the 19th century, with the last traces buried under rubble in the 1960s.

The site’s history is pieced together from old records, such as a 1536 survey calling it ‘Burg Schlüsselberg’ and a 1530 mention of a priest serving at ‘St. Johannis in castro nostro’. A nearby chapel dedicated to St John survived longer, possibly once part of a small medieval village. The ruins’ scattered stones still appear in surrounding vineyard walls, silent witnesses to its past.

Visitors today find a quiet hilltop with little visible trace of the fortress. The Sankt-Johanns-Kapelle’s foundations lie just south of the former stronghold, while old hollowed paths hint at medieval trade routes once protected by the castle. The surrounding meadows and vineyards stretch out below, offering a peaceful view of the Glemstal valley.