The castle is located about 50 m above the valley floor, above the Eselsburg section of Herbrechtingen. The central keep is located on the edge of a steep rock cliff (521 m above sea level) that projects up from the valley floor. A semi-circular trench protects the castle on the other side.
Historyedit
The Eselsburg was built around 1200 as the home of the ministeriales or unfree knights of the Graf or Baronvon Dillingen. It is likely that an earlier castle foundation was reused to build the castle. In 1244 a knight named Gerwig (Gerwicus) von Eselsburg is mentioned in a document. In 1270, Rudolf von Eselsburg served the Graf Ulrich II. von Helfenstein. In 1284 another Gerwig von Eselsburg entered the service of the Bishop of Augsburg. Then, in 1343 the Eselsburger sold their castle and property in Herbrechtingen.
The castle then passed through several owners in the next century. In 1385 Wilhelm von Riedheim acquired the land. In 1414 Heinrich von Bopfingen acquired the property, which became an Imperialfief in 1441. Then, in 1444 Rudolf von Bopfingen sold his half of the rights to the castle to Heinrich Krafft from Ulm. Heinrich then acquired the other half of the rights one year later from Sigmund von Eselsburg. In 1453 the Emperor released the castle from his ownership, and it ceased to be an imperial fief.
In 1462 the castle was burned by Bavarian troops, during a Reichskrieg against the Duchy of Bavaria. In 1479 the castle became the property of Eitelhans von Knöringen. Then, in 1503 the Lords von Eben took over castle Eselsburg. Christoph Friedrich von Eben sold the castle in 1562 to his brother in law Ulrich von Rechberg zu Falkenstein. Following a divestment of the property to the House of Württemberg in 1593 the castle was emptied and began to decay. By 1690 the castle is reported to be "abandoned and totally overgrown".
Castle Groundsedit
Of the High Middle Ages castle, only the ditch and a few fragments of the wall are visible today.
The ditch was cut from rock and about 5 m deep and 4 to 5 m wide. Additionally, behind the ditch, a three sided wall protected the keep. The angular trench is generally easy to follow, though the southern section is mostly filled in.
The remains of the rectangular keep (ca. 23 x 30 m) are built from a variety of rough finished stones and buckel stones (square stones with a rounded outer edge). On this site, according to the 1581 Renlinschen Forstkarte (Renlinschen Forest Map located in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg), there were two fortified houses with saddle roofs and a tower which was topped with a helmet. Between the two wings in east and west was the small courtyard. A fragment of the wall in front of the east building could belong to an inner wall.
Günter Schmitt: Burgenführer Schwäbische Alb. Band 6 · Ostalb. Wandern und entdecken zwischen Ulm, Aalen und Donauwörth. Biberacher Verlagsdruckerei. Biberach an der Riß 1995. ISBN3-924489-74-2
eselsburg, castle, german, burgstall, eselsburg, levelled, castle, located, above, town, herbrechtingen, heidenheim, district, baden, württemberg, germany, burgstall, eselsburgnear, herbrechtingen, germany, rock, above, eselsburger, valleytypelevelled, castles. Eselsburg Castle German Burgstall Eselsburg is a levelled castle located above the town of Herbrechtingen in the Heidenheim district of Baden Wurttemberg in Germany Eselsburg CastleBurgstall EselsburgNear Herbrechtingen in GermanyEselsburg Castle rock above the Eselsburger ValleyTypeLevelled castleSite historyBuilt1200 1200 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Castle Grounds 4 See also 5 ReferencesLocation editThe castle is located about 50 m above the valley floor above the Eselsburg section of Herbrechtingen The central keep is located on the edge of a steep rock cliff 521 m above sea level that projects up from the valley floor A semi circular trench protects the castle on the other side History editThe Eselsburg was built around 1200 as the home of the ministeriales or unfree knights of the Graf or Baron von Dillingen It is likely that an earlier castle foundation was reused to build the castle In 1244 a knight named Gerwig Gerwicus von Eselsburg is mentioned in a document In 1270 Rudolf von Eselsburg served the Graf Ulrich II von Helfenstein In 1284 another Gerwig von Eselsburg entered the service of the Bishop of Augsburg Then in 1343 the Eselsburger sold their castle and property in Herbrechtingen The castle then passed through several owners in the next century In 1385 Wilhelm von Riedheim acquired the land In 1414 Heinrich von Bopfingen acquired the property which became an Imperial fief in 1441 Then in 1444 Rudolf von Bopfingen sold his half of the rights to the castle to Heinrich Krafft from Ulm Heinrich then acquired the other half of the rights one year later from Sigmund von Eselsburg In 1453 the Emperor released the castle from his ownership and it ceased to be an imperial fief In 1462 the castle was burned by Bavarian troops during a Reichskrieg against the Duchy of Bavaria In 1479 the castle became the property of Eitelhans von Knoringen Then in 1503 the Lords von Eben took over castle Eselsburg Christoph Friedrich von Eben sold the castle in 1562 to his brother in law Ulrich von Rechberg zu Falkenstein Following a divestment of the property to the House of Wurttemberg in 1593 the castle was emptied and began to decay By 1690 the castle is reported to be abandoned and totally overgrown Castle Grounds editOf the High Middle Ages castle only the ditch and a few fragments of the wall are visible today The ditch was cut from rock and about 5 m deep and 4 to 5 m wide Additionally behind the ditch a three sided wall protected the keep The angular trench is generally easy to follow though the southern section is mostly filled in The remains of the rectangular keep ca 23 x 30 m are built from a variety of rough finished stones and buckel stones square stones with a rounded outer edge On this site according to the 1581 Renlinschen Forstkarte Renlinschen Forest Map located in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nurnberg there were two fortified houses with saddle roofs and a tower which was topped with a helmet Between the two wings in east and west was the small courtyard A fragment of the wall in front of the east building could belong to an inner wall See also editList of castles in Baden WurttembergReferences editGunter Schmitt Burgenfuhrer Schwabische Alb Band 6 Ostalb Wandern und entdecken zwischen Ulm Aalen und Donauworth Biberacher Verlagsdruckerei Biberach an der Riss 1995 ISBN 3 924489 74 2 48 36 2 N 10 10 58 E 48 60056 N 10 18278 E 48 60056 10 18278 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eselsburg Castle amp oldid 976670734, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
