Zwingenberg Castle
Where the River Neckar cuts through the wooded hills of the Odenwald in central Germany, Zwingenberg Castle clings to a rocky spur fifty meters above the water. This spur castle commands views up and down the river valley, positioned at the confluence of the Neckar and the steep Wolfschlucht gorge. For seven centuries, whoever held Zwingenberg controlled passage through one of Germany's most important river corridors.
Robber Knights
The castle was likely built in the 13th century by William of Wimpfen, a ministerialis serving the Hohenstaufen dynasty. His nephew took the name von Zwingenberg after the fortress. But the Zwingenberg family gained a darker reputation as robber knights, nobles who used their castle as a base for highway robbery and extortion of passing merchants. In 1364, imperial forces drove the Zwingenbergs from their stronghold and slighted the castle in the emperor's name, tearing down its defenses.
Rebuilding and Rebirth
The castle did not stay ruined for long. In 1404, the Lords of Hirschhorn received Zwingenberg as a fief and rebuilt it. When his line died out, ownership passed through a succession of powerful hands: the Electorate of Mainz, the Electorate of the Palatinate, and finally the Grand Duchy of Baden. Today the castle belongs to Prince Ludwig of Baden, born in 1937, a descendant of Grand Duke Charles Frederick. The prince's family has held Zwingenberg for over two centuries.
The Castle Today
Above Zwingenberg Castle, the ruins of Furstenstein Castle hint at even older fortifications on this strategic ridge. The current castle hosts the Zwingenberg Schloss Festival each summer, bringing music and drama to the medieval courtyard. The surrounding Odenwald forests remain largely unchanged from the days when robber knights watched for merchant convoys on the river below. The Neckar still flows past the castle's feet, though barges have replaced the sailing vessels of earlier centuries.
From the Air
Zwingenberg Castle is visible on the right bank of the Neckar River where it passes through the Odenwald hills in Baden-Wurttemberg. The castle sits on a pronounced spur at the junction of the river valley and the Wolfschlucht gorge. Look for the distinctive tower rising above the surrounding forest. Nearest airports: Mannheim City (EDFM) 30nm northwest, Stuttgart (EDDS) 65nm south.