Burg Streichenberg

Burg Streichenberg stands on a spur of a small hill where an old trade route once forked, near Stebbach in Gemmingen. It was built in the 13th century, probably by the Lords of Gemmingen, and later passed through many hands. The castle was damaged during the Thirty Years’ War and the Palatinate War of Succession before becoming a farm in the 19th century. Around 1820 the nearby Schloss Schomberg replaced it as the main residence, and the old ruin served as a farm until restoration began in the 1960s. The castle once commanded views of Burg Ravensburg and Burg Steinsberg and overlooked the valley below. Today the hill is covered in woodland, hiding much of the ruins from sight. A railway line and a stone quarry lie close by, adding to the quiet, shaded feel of the place. The last standing tower vanished by 1700, and only parts of the walls remain visible among the trees. The nearby village of Zimmern disappeared centuries ago, leaving the castle as the only trace of that settlement. Visitors walk among ivy-clad walls and overgrown foundations that hint at former halls and towers. The site offers glimpses of the surrounding countryside through gaps in the foliage. Nearby stands Schloss Schomberg, built by the Degenfeld family after they left the old castle. The contrast between the ruined medieval fortress and the elegant 19th-century manor shows how the area’s history unfolded over centuries.