Alte Burg

The Alte Burg stands on a steep, almost circular hill near Demmingen in the Heidenheim district. The hill rises to 515 metres above sea level and once supported a strong medieval castle. Built in the 13th century by the counts of Dillingen, it later passed to the lords of Hürnheim and then the Fugger counts. By 1551 the castle was already ruined and between 1570 and 1572 the remains were cleared away. Only the foundations and a single tower house survive today. The castle’s tower house measured 6.6 by 10.3 metres with walls nearly two metres thick. These massive walls show how heavily the building was fortified. The site offers a clear view over the surrounding countryside, a strategic advantage in its time. Visitors can walk the old ramparts and see where the great hall once stood. The hilltop is quiet now, but the layout of the ruins still tells its story. A path leads from Demmingen up to the hill in about twenty minutes. The climb is rewarded by wide views across the Alb plateau. The ruins themselves are modest, yet the sense of height and isolation remains. On clear days the Swabian landscape stretches away in every direction. The site is small but it carries the weight of seven centuries of power and decay.