Schloss Zwiefaltendorf

Schloss Zwiefaltendorf stands beside the river Zwiefalter Aach where it meets the Danube, in the village of Zwiefaltendorf near Riedlingen. The site began as a water-burgh in the 11th century, later burned down by Duke Ulrich of Württemberg in 1517. The present two-storey building appears in records around 1660 and still shows its original corner turrets topped with pointed roofs. For centuries it belonged to the Speth family, then passed in 1878 to the Freiherren von und zu Bodman. After a thorough renovation between 1982 and 1985 it now belongs to the Junger and Seiz families from Metzingen. The castle is chiefly used today for conferences and private events, yet its medieval origins remain visible in the thick walls and the moat that once surrounded the water-burgh. The Speth coat of arms can still be seen carved above one of the doorways. Local historians Günter Schmitt and Stefan Uhl have described the building in detail in their guides to Swabian castles and the Biberach district. The renovation preserved the character of the 17th-century structure while fitting it for modern use. Visitors approach across a small bridge over the old moat and enter a courtyard flanked by the main block and the corner turrets. Inside, the ground floor rooms retain their historic oak panelling and wide fireplaces. The upper storey offers views over the surrounding Ried countryside towards the Danube. The castle garden, once part of the water defences, now provides a quiet setting for breaks between events.