Burg Bischoffingen

Burg Bischoffingen stands in the village of Bischoffingen, part of Vogtsburg in the Kaiserstuhl hills. The ruin lies beside the village street, just above 225 metres above sea level. First recorded in 1393, it was once a small square castle about thirty metres on each side. The south-west corner still shows medieval masonry of large ashlar blocks rising to four metres. These stones now form part of a private house. The castle belonged to knights who appear in records from 1083 onwards. After the Tottikofen family it passed to Reinold VI of Urslingen and later to the lords of Geroldseck. By 1568 it was called an ‘old castle site’ and later served as a tithe barn and wine press. In 1924 the surrounding ditch was filled in. Visitors see the remaining ashlar wall built into a modern dwelling. The modest scale and simple stonework give a clear sense of a small medieval fortress. The quiet lane and surrounding vineyards set the ruin in a peaceful rural scene.