Untersulmetingen Castle

Untersulmetingen Castle stands in the centre of the village of Untersulmetingen, now part of Laupheim in Baden-Württemberg. It occupies a gentle slope on a terminal moraine 509 metres above sea level, west of the river Riß. The building is a plain three-storey Renaissance structure under a large gabled roof dating from about 1600. A medieval castle once stood on the same spot around 1400 before it was looted and burnt in 1525. A new castle was erected between 1538 and 1542 by Hieronymus Roth von Schreckenstein. The castle’s chapel, built in 1608 and dedicated to Saint Othmar, is notable for its painted decorations and stucco work. These artworks merge the shapes of windows and paintings into a unified design. In the early 18th century, Benedikt Denzel, abbot of Ochsenhausen Abbey, commissioned Dominikus Hermenegild Herberger and Franz Joseph Spiegler to redecorate the interior and chapel. The castle passed through Fugger, Thurn und Taxis and monastic hands before becoming the residence of the local priest in the 19th century. Since 1969 it has been privately owned, with the chapel now used by the local administration. Visitors find a quiet three-storey building with a plain exterior and a grand gabled roof. Inside, the chapel’s painted stucco ceiling and walls create a striking effect. A stork’s nest perches on one of the chimneys, adding a living detail to the scene. The surrounding village retains its rural character, with the castle forming part of the community’s centre. The chapel’s recent restorations in 1979 and 2000 have preserved its decorative scheme. The castle’s history is visible in every room and in the carefully maintained grounds.