Bürgle (Altheim)

The Bürgle, also called Burg Altheim, once stood near Altheim in the Biberach district. It lay 2.7 kilometres south-west of Riedlingen and 500 metres south-west of Altheim’s church. The lords of Altheim appear in records from 1127 to 1246, serving the counts of Veringen as ministeriales. In 1291 the Habsburgs took possession of the castle. By 1358 it was already a Burgstall, a ruined site, and in 1827 fragments of the ring wall could still be seen. Today no walls or towers remain above ground. The field called Bürgele is now covered by buildings, yet the road name Auf dem Bürgele keeps the memory alive. Archaeologists have found traces of the outer defences and interior structures beneath the modern surface. The site offers little to see but tells a story of shifting power in the 12th and 13th centuries. A short walk from Altheim’s church brings visitors to the quiet lane Auf dem Bürgele. The surroundings are peaceful farmland and scattered houses, with no visible ruins to inspect. The only reminder is the road sign and the knowledge that a medieval stronghold once stood here.