Hohenneuffen Castle

Hohenneuffen Castle (Burg Hohenneuffen) is a large fortress ruin high above the town of Neuffen on the Swabian Jura escarpment in Baden-Württemberg. From its white-limestone rock in the Esslingen district you get wide views over the Alb foreland, and the castle courtyard is free to enter. If you are looking for castle ruins in Baden-Württemberg that combine well with a walk, Hohenneuffen offers walls, casemates, a restaurant and a dramatic history.

History

The castle was built between 1100 and 1120 and is first mentioned in 1198. It belonged first to the Lords of Neuffen, then to the Lords of Weinsberg, and from 1301 to the House of Württemberg, which expanded it into a state fortress. It withstood an attack in 1312 and surrendered to the Swabian League in 1519. In the Thirty Years' War its garrison handed it over in 1635 after a 15-month siege. From 1793 it was dismantled and its stones reused as building material. The ruin has been open to visitors since the 1860s.

The walls also served as a state prison. Prisoners included Joseph Süß Oppenheimer, jailed in 1737 and executed in 1738; a memorial plaque recalls him. Another plaque commemorates the 1948 three-state meeting held at the castle.

What to see

• The courtyard and walls, with round towers on the rock spur.
• The casemates, partly open to visitors.
• The view over Neuffen, the Alb foreland and the escarpment.
• Falconry shows and events, including a medieval market and special tours.
• The castle restaurant and a kiosk for a break at the top.

Tickets, tours and opening hours (as of October 2026)

The courtyard is free. From 1 November to 31 March the ruin is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; longer hours apply in summer, so check the fortress website. The classic castle tour runs from 1 April to 31 October on Fridays to Sundays and on public holidays. A standard tour costs EUR 5 for adults, EUR 2.50 reduced and EUR 12.50 for families. Special tours cost EUR 12, EUR 6 reduced and EUR 30 for families. The falconry flight show costs EUR 5, or EUR 3 for children under 14. With the AlbCard, which guests of participating hosts on the Swabian Alb receive from their first night, one standard tour is free.

In October 2026, special tours are scheduled for 11 October at 3:30 p.m. ("Locked Up") and 17 October at 3 p.m. ("Life in a Knights' Castle"); a "Night at the Castle" event takes place on 6 November.

Getting there

You reach the castle on foot. Free public car parks are within walking distance, including one at Hohenneuffenstraße 100 in Erkenbrechtsweiler. For navigation, enter "72639 Neuffen/Sonderziele" or "73268 Erkenbrechtsweiler, Weileräckerstraße" and then follow the signs. By train, take the Tälesbahn from Nürtingen to Neuffen, then walk about 50 minutes. On weekends a shuttle bus runs to the Hohenneuffen hiking car park, followed by about a 20-minute walk. Check bwegt.de for current departures. A popular walk is about 5 km (3 miles) long, with about 293 m of climbing, and takes about 1.5 hours.

Accessibility and pets

According to the operator, the ruin is only partly accessible: steep paths and cobblestones mean you need a companion. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Drones are banned across the grounds. Private snapshots are allowed; commercial photography needs permission.

Nearby

The town of Neuffen lies directly below the castle. The Hohenneuffen mountain run starts in Linsenhofen (9.3 km, 438 m of climbing).