Burg Heimberg

The Burg Heimberg stands on the Schlossbuckel hill at 350 metres above sea level, near the hamlet of Herrenhölzle in Unterheimbach. Locally it is also called Burg Hellmat or Burgruine Hellmat. The remains belong to a former hilltop castle built in the 13th century. It was once home to the Lords of Heimberg, first recorded in 1253. The family sold the site early on, and parts passed to the House of Hohenlohe after 1344.

The raised plateau measures about fifty metres across. A deep neck ditch on the south-west side once protected the approach, while ring ditches surrounded the other three sides. Traces of a curtain wall, a gatehouse and other buildings are still visible. The best-preserved part is the base of the keep, standing nearly two metres high. Its rare herringbone masonry pattern and thick walls show how strongly the castle was built.

Visitors walk along the old ditches that once formed the defences. The keep’s base reveals the craftsmanship of the builders. Buckelquader masonry can be seen in the surviving sections. The quiet hilltop offers views over the surrounding countryside. The site is small but rich in historical detail.