Burg Istein

Burg Istein stands on the Isteiner Klotz, a steep rock above the village of Istein in the Rhine valley near the Swiss border. Built in the 11th or 12th century by the bishops of Basel, it was first recorded in 1185 and again around 1233. Over the centuries the castle changed hands many times, passing from the bishops to knights, the city of Basel, Austria, and several noble families. In 1410–11 Basler troops demolished the walls, and later it was rebuilt only to be turned into a fortress between 1900 and 1914. After 1936 it became part of the Westwall and was finally blown up after the Second World War. The most striking remnant is the St. Veitskapelle, a small chapel built between 1100 and 1200 into a steep rock face. After the castle’s destruction in 1650 the chapel was rebuilt, then left in ruins after 1947. In the 1980s volunteers restored much of the building so that its stone walls and single arched window now stand out against the cliff. The chapel is all that remains of what once were two chapels inside the fortress. Visitors climb a path up the Isteiner Klotz to reach the ruins and the chapel. From the top there are wide views across the Rhine plain towards the Black Forest and the Vosges. The rock itself is a landmark in the landscape, rising sharply above the surrounding vineyards and fields. The contrast between the ruined walls and the rebuilt chapel shows how the site has been shaped by war and later care. The climb is short but steep, rewarding walkers with quiet views of the river valley below.