Burg Neuentierberg

Burg Neuentierberg was a medieval stronghold built by the Tierberg family in the Zollernalbkreis of Baden-Württemberg. It stood near the villages of Meßstetten and Lautlingen, where the Tierbergs held rights to churches and lands. The name suggests it was the newest of several castles in the area, possibly built in the early 14th century. Historians like Hermann Krauss believe the Neuentierberg stood on the Heersberg, where traces of a large stone castle have been found. Archaeologists discovered a 38-kilogram stone used in sieges, hinting at a violent end around the mid-1300s. Local legends link it to the Schimmelreiter, a ghostly knight said to ride near Weichenwang. The Tierbergs expanded their power by buying villages and castles, including Hossingen in 1327. Today the Heersberg shows earthworks and scattered stones where the walls once stood. Walkers on the Schwäbischer Albverein trails pass the site, guided by signs pointing to the old castle. The surrounding farmland and forests still follow the same boundaries set centuries ago. Visitors feel the quiet of a place once filled with armed conflict and noble rivalry.