Burg Buttenhausen

Burg Buttenhausen stands as the ruined remains of a spur castle on a hilltop about 665 metres above sea level. It overlooks the village of Buttenhausen, part of the town of Münsingen in the Reutlingen district. The site sits above the Michaelskirche and beside the town’s new cemetery. The castle was first recorded in 1389 when Friedrich III von Gundelfingen sold the local vogtei to the provost of Güterstein monastery. By the 15th century the Stein family held the fortress before selling it to Eberhard von Gemmingen in 1569. After 1812 the structure fell into disrepair while parts of the stables were still used for storage. The polygonal outer walls survive up to five metres high on the valley side. These remnants now form the boundary of the cemetery. The neck ditch on the hillside and the shield wall have disappeared entirely. The castle passed through several noble families during the 19th century, including the Freiherr von Münch in 1812. By 1825 the granary was still in use despite the general decay. Visitors reach the site along paths beside the Michaelskirche. The surviving masonry forms a quiet backdrop to the modern graves. From the hilltop there are views across the surrounding countryside. The contrast between the crumbling medieval walls and the orderly cemetery creates a distinctive atmosphere. The ruins offer a glimpse of the region’s feudal past without any modern intrusions.