Code DE-BW Built 13th century Phone +49 6263 411010 | Condition preserved Occupants nobility | |
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Type hill castle, spur castle Height Height missing, see template documentationTemplate:Höhe/Erro in parameter list Address Schloßstraße 1, 69437 Neckargerach, Germany Similar Minneburg, Hornberg Castle, Burg Eberbach, Schauenburg, Burg Guttenberg | ||
Zwingenburg Castle (German: Burg Zwingenberg), also called Zwingenburg or Schloss Zwingenberg, stands on the right bank of the River Neckar where it cuts through the Odenwald hills in central Germany. The castle is located in the municipality of Zwingenberg in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
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Location
The spur castle was built on a hill spur in the triangle formed by the confluence of the steep Wolfschlucht gorge with the Neckar valley and lies about 50 metres above the river.
History
The castle was probably built in the 13th century by the Hohenstaufen ministerialis, William of Wimpfen. The first record of it dates to the year 1326. A nephew of William of Wimpfen called himself von Zwingenberg. Because the Zwingenbergs were robber knights, in 1363 they were driven from the castle and it was slighted in the name of the emperor. In 1403, the Lord of Hirschhorn was enfeoffed with the Zwingenburg and had it rebuilt. After his line had died out, ownership switched between the Electorate of Mainz, Electorate of the Palatinate and the Grand Duchy of Baden. The lord of the castle today is Louis (Ludwig), Prince of Baden (born 1937), a descendant of Grand Duke Charles Frederick of Baden.
Above Zwingenberg Castle are the remains of Fürstenstein Castle.