Burg Kilsenberg

Burg Kilsenberg stands on the Kätzleberg, a hill 500 metres east of Burghöfe in the Owingen district of the Bodenseekreis. The site overlooks the surrounding countryside from its elevated position. The remains consist mainly of a low mound and surrounding ditches. It was built in the 12th century and served as the home of the Kilse family. The family’s name appears in records from 1191 until 1270. The Kilse von Kilsenberg were local nobles whose influence faded after the 13th century. Their castle is one of many medieval fortifications along the northern shore of Lake Constance. Archaeologists have identified traces of walls and earthworks on the site. Written sources from the 19th and 20th centuries describe the ruins and their history. Scholars such as Franz Bohnstedt and Alois Schneider have studied the site in detail. Visitors reach the mound by following a footpath from Burghöfe. The grassy summit offers wide views across fields and woods. The ditches that once defended the castle are still visible around the base. Nearby, the modern Schloss Killenberg stands on a different hill. The quiet surroundings make it easy to imagine the castle’s past life.