Burg Eichholz

Burg Eichholz once stood high above the meeting of the Eselsbach and Tierbach streams where they form the Ette. The little hamlet of Eichholz lies within the town of Schrozberg in the Schwäbisch Hall district. Its ruined walls overlook the valley from a height of 439.6 metres. The castle was built in the 13th century to guard this quiet corner of Baden-Württemberg. Today only the remains of its defensive ditch can still be seen. The site is worth a short detour for anyone interested in medieval fortifications. Alois Schneider’s survey of castles in the Schwäbisch Hall district recognises Burg Eichholz among the region’s early stone strongholds. Though the rest of the structure has vanished, the surviving earthworks show how the builders used the spur of land to block any approach. The view from the vanished tower would have stretched across the surrounding farmland and woods. Visitors walk along the old ramparts and look down into the ditch that once separated the inner ward from the outer defences. The grassy slopes are quiet except for the sound of the streams below. Wild flowers grow among the stones, and the air carries the scent of hay from nearby meadows. On clear days the spire of Schrozberg’s church can be seen rising above the trees. The place feels remote, yet it is only a few minutes from the hamlet’s few houses.