Ballmertshofen Castle

Ballmertshofen Castle stands in the south-east corner of Ballmertshofen village, a short walk from the road that leads to Giengen and Dattenhausen. Built in the 16th century, it is a small moated castle with a single courtyard surrounded by two-storey wings. The community has owned the building since the 19th century and now uses part of it for a local art gallery. The castle is worth the journey for anyone interested in quiet historic houses. Its modest size and clear 16th-century plan make it easier to read than many grander ruins. The art gallery inside shows changing exhibitions of regional artists, giving visitors a reason to step beyond the entrance hall. Inside, the ground floor rooms open off a vaulted passage that runs the length of the courtyard. Upstairs, the gallery occupies one wing with large windows that let in steady north light. Outside, the moat still holds water and the surrounding meadows stretch towards the fields beyond the village.