Burg Stahelsberg

Burg Stahelsberg stands as the remains of a high-medieval noble castle in Mittelfranken. It sits on the Schlossberg, a 528-metre spur of the Frankenjura massif, rising seventy metres above the Rohrach valley. The site overlooks Hechlingen to the north-east and Heidenheim to the north-west, about seven kilometres away. The castle was probably built in the 11th century by the Lords of Stahelsberg, first mentioned in 1197. After their line died out, the Truhendingen family inherited the site and planned a Cistercian convent here in 1245. The convent moved twice more before finally vanishing, leaving only ruins and earthworks. Visitors find a bell-shaped plateau, 140 metres long and up to 100 metres wide, defended by a deep neck ditch on its eastern side. The ditch is 150 metres long, 15 metres wide and four metres deep, with high ramparts on either side. A ruined chapel, measuring sixteen by eight metres, stands near the northern edge of the plateau. Below the rampart’s southern end a disused quarry marks the limit of the defences.