Wildenberg Castle
Herrschaft Dürn
Access
No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found
- Where
- Herrschaft Dürn
To make a day of it
Burg Wildenberg (Kirchzell) stands in Herrschaft Dürn (Landkreis Miltenberg), in Bavaria, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Recorded dating: 12th century. No visits are on record for this building.
Wildenberg Castle stands in ruins on a rocky spur of the Odenwald hills, above the Mud valley, in the Miltenberg district of Bavaria. Begun in the 1170s by the lords of Dürn, loyal followers of the Hohenstaufen emperors, it retains a keep, a gate tower with its chapel, and a great hall whose Gothic window arcades rank among the finest achievements of their period for a German fortress. Tradition holds that the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach wrote part of his Parzival here around 1205. Burned down by peasants under Götz von Berlichingen in 1525, it was never rebuilt and remains, despite its ruinous state, one of the best preserved castles of its era.
Written from Wildenberg Castle (Kirchzell)
What to know
- The ruin stands on a wooded spur, reached on foot from Preunschen, a hamlet of the municipality of Kirchzell.
- The site is outdoors with no modern facilities, so sturdy footwear for woodland paths is advisable.
- The castle occasionally hosts cultural events.
- Visitors interested in medieval craftsmanship can spot numerous mason's marks still visible on the walls.
- There is no indoor circuit, as the castle has remained a ruin since it was burned down in 1525.
Where this château is
Herrschaft Dürn · Landkreis Miltenberg · Bayern
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Address
Herrschaft Dürn, Landkreis Miltenberg
Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.
- Heritage status
- Baudenkmal in Bayern
- Period of construction
- 12th century
Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme
In pictures
Frequently asked
- Can you visit Wildenberg Castle freely?
- It is an open-air ruin reached by a footpath from Preunschen, with no indoor route to follow.
- Why is Wildenberg Castle linked to Parzival?
- Tradition holds that the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach wrote part of his verse novel here around 1205.
- Who destroyed Wildenberg Castle?
- It was burned down on 4 May 1525 by rebellious peasants led by the knight Götz von Berlichingen during the German Peasants' War.
- How old is Wildenberg Castle?
- Construction began around 1170 to 1180 under the lords of Dürn and continued in an early Gothic style around 1220.
- Where is Wildenberg Castle located?
- It stands in Herrschaft Dürn, in the Miltenberg district of Bavaria, above the Mud valley in the Odenwald hills.
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Sources
Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Land's heritage lists.
