Schloss Reichenberg

Schloss Reichenberg stands on a hill 100 metres above Reichelsheim in the Odenwald. It is the remains of a medieval hilltop castle whose great hall and outer buildings have been restored and are privately owned. The hilltop rises to 311 metres and commands wide views over the surrounding countryside. The castle’s history reaches back to the 12th century when the Lords of Crumpach built the first stronghold. By the 13th century it belonged to the Schenken of Erbach, who enlarged it and added the Michaelskapelle in the late 14th century. The chapel, with its Gothic windows and rare three-hare boss, was restored in the 1980s and is again used for services. The castle survived sieges in the 16th and 17th centuries and later became a boys’ school and a postal rest home before being turned into an international meeting place. Visitors walk up to the restored great hall called the Krummer Bau, where a Renaissance well shows the Erbach and Palatinate coats of arms. The Michaelskapelle now holds modern glass windows by Robert Münch and is used regularly for worship. Archaeologists have uncovered part of the old garderobe, giving a glimpse of daily life centuries ago. The hilltop also offers long views across the Odenwald hills.