Burg Wittichenstein

The ruins of Wittichenstein Castle stand on a rocky outcrop 510 metres above sea level, high above the Wittichen monastery near Schenkenzell. Built in the 13th century, it belonged to the Schenken of Schenkenzell family who managed the nearby silver mines. By 1344 the castle had already fallen into ruin, leaving only faint traces of its former walls. The brothers Burkard and Konrad Schenken appear in records from 1298, using a seal that linked them to earlier noble houses. Its purpose was to guard the mining district, much like Birchiburg Castle in Bollschweil. The site holds little more than scattered stones today, yet the location still commands sweeping views over the valley. The steep climb rewards visitors with glimpses of the monastery below and the surrounding Black Forest ridges. The castle’s brief history centres on its role in controlling the silver trade that once flourished here. Historical studies by Max Miller and Hugo Schneider describe how the castle fitted into the region’s medieval power structure. Wolfgang Braun’s reconstruction drawing shows how the walls once enclosed a small courtyard. Visitors find a quiet hilltop clearing where ivy clings to the last remnants of the keep. A short path leads from the road up to the ruins, passing through beech and pine woods. The air carries the scent of damp earth and moss-covered stone. From the outcrop, the monastery’s red roofs and the distant village blend into the green landscape. Few tourists disturb the scene, leaving the ruins to the wind and the occasional hiker.