Hochburg Emmendingen
From a small noble castle to a fortress
The stronghold was first mentioned as “Hachberg” castle in the 12th century; the Lords of Hachberg, the house of the Counts of Nimburg, are possible founders and first owners. Since the 13th century the Margraves of Baden with the side line, the Margraves of Baden-Hachberg were owners and users of the complex. In the 15th century, the castle complex passed to the Margraves of Baden. In the middle of the 16th century, Margrave Karl II of Baden-Durlach extended the castle and built a palace, which gave it the size it still has today.
The great period of the castle began in the 17th century, when Margrave George Frederick of Baden had it expanded into a fortress.
However, it was thoroughly destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War in 1636. Although Margrave Friedrich VI of Baden began rebuilding it in 1660, the War of the Palatinate Succession led to its final destruction in 1689. After that, the stronghold remained in ruins and served only as a source of romantic impressions and legendary stories.
The extent of today’s complex, as well as its still existing buildings with revealing construction details, impressively testify to the importance of the fortress in the 17th century.
From Sleeping Beauty to the Success Story of the “Hochburgverein
In 1971, the “Association for the Preservation of the Hochburg Ruin” was founded. It set itself the task of preserving and maintaining the ruins, which belong to the state of Baden-Württemberg.
At the beginning of the preservation measures, the extensive ruin area was cleared of a forest-like growth. These initial measures were accompanied by a precise structural survey as a basis for the subsequent securing and restoration work. This was the beginning of the “Hochburgverein” success story.
In addition to the ongoing maintenance and upkeep work, the main focus is on the securing and restoration work on the ruins.
During your virtual tour, you can walk through the Hochburg and dive into areas that were not accessible or only accessible with difficulty before the restoration by the association. For example, you can take a look at the former prison or visit the cooper’s yard with the horse mill. The castle bailiwick, the Herbsthaus, as well as the high castle can also be explored this way.
When visiting the castle museum, you can reach the exhibition cellar from the entrance hall, which was once covered with a groined vault, via a wide sandstone staircase. In the former wine and storage cellar of the upper castle, which probably already existed in the 12th or 13th century, and which was lowered and vaulted in 1356, the actual exhibition is set up. The finds are presented in four showcases and a kitchen corner. A fifth showcase gives information about the historical development of the castle and its owners.
