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Sausenburg Castle today

Germany · Ruin

Sausenburg Castle

Sausenburg Castle is a ruined medieval hill castle on the Sausenberg, north of Kandern in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Built in the 13th century for the lords of Sausenburg, it was largely destroyed in 1678; today a circular earthwork, a single cylindrical tower and several wall fragments remain on the wooded hilltop.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1246

Its prime

1500

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1500

What Sausenburg Castle looked like in its prime.

At its prime the site was dominated by a single tall cylindrical bergfried of grey-brown rubble stone at one end, linked by continuous curtain walls of the same coarse masonry to higher wall sections and a circular earthen rampart; openings include narrow slits and larger arched window/door apertures now truncated. The castle crowns a steep, grassy, tree-studded sandstone hill (Sausenberg) and presents a raw, irregular stone silhouette against the skyline.

Its story

The story of Sausenburg Castle.

Sausenburg Castle was the stronghold of the lords of Sausenburg, built on the 665-metre Sausenberg on the edge of the Black Forest, north of Kandern between Sitzenkirch and Malsburg-Marzell. The counts of Hachberg acquired the property from the monastery in 1232, and in 1306 the counts founded the Sausenberg dynasty.

In 1315 Liuthold II of Roetteln, the last male member of his dynasty, bestowed Roetteln on the counts of Hachberg-Sausenberg, who moved to Rötteln Castle and established their vogts on the Sausenberg. When John, the last of the counts of Freiburg, bestowed Badenweiler on the margraves of Hachberg-Sausenberg in 1444, the merger of Badenweiler, Rötteln and Sausenberg marked the beginning of the Markgräflerland.

Largely destroyed in 1678, the castle survives as a ruin on the wooded hilltop, a circular earthwork, a single cylindrical tower and several fragments of wall.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1500.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Sausenburg Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the hillsideBase of the cylindrical bergfriedTop platform of the bergfriedCurtain wall opening with iron-barred window (reconstructed)Circular rampart crestRuined east wall stump with trees

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Whose castle

Clans who held Sausenburg Castle.

The families that held Sausenburg Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Hachberg-Sausenberg

    Held by the counts of Hachberg from 1232; their Hachberg-Sausenberg line, founded 1306, took its name from the castle.

From the archive

Sausenburg Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Burgruine Sausenburg, Sausenburg Castle

Burgruine Sausenburg

· Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe (via Europeana)

CC0 (no rights reserved)

Sausenburg: Fernblick von der Sausenburg auf [Schloss] Bürgeln, Sausenburg Castle

Sausenburg: Fernblick von der Sausenburg auf [Schloss] Bürgeln

· State Archives of Baden-Württemberg (via Europeana)

CC BY

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Sausenburg Castle.

St. Jakob-Park, SwitzerlandStadiumSt. Jakob-Park22 km awayEuropa-Park-Stadion, GermanyStadiumEuropa-Park-Stadion33 km away

Questions about Sausenburg Castle

What is the history of Sausenburg Castle?

Sausenburg Castle was built in the 13th century to protect the area and became the stronghold of the lords of Sausenburg. The counts of Hachberg acquired the property in 1232 and built the castle by 1246. In 1306 they founded the Sausenberg dynasty, later moved to Rötteln Castle, and the castle was largely destroyed in 1678.

What is inside Sausenburg Castle?

Inside Sausenburg Castle, the main plateau is surrounded by a ring ditch and rampart, with remnants of the polygonal curtain wall. The southern part retains remains of a possible two-storey palas, including part of a barrel vault. The restored bergfried has a walkable top platform and can be climbed as a viewing tower.

Why was Sausenburg Castle built, and what was it used for?

Sausenburg Castle was built to protect the area and served as the stronghold of the lords of Sausenburg. The counts of Hachberg lived there from 1246, while their later Hachberg-Sausenberg line established its advocates on the Sausenberg after moving to Rötteln Castle. No later change from fortress to palace or other use is documented here.

Where is Sausenburg Castle?

Sausenburg Castle is on the 665-metre Sausenberg, on the edge of the Black Forest north of Kandern in Baden-Württemberg. It lies between Sitzenkirch and Malsburg-Marzell, on the area of the town of Kandern. The ruin is about 1.3 kilometres east of Kandern’s Sitzenkirch district.

When was Sausenburg Castle built?

Sausenburg Castle was first raised in 1246, placing its construction in the 13th century. The counts of Hachberg acquired the property in 1232 and built the castle between 1232 and 1246. A 1246 document explicitly names a castle, although it is unclear whether the bergfried already existed at that date.

Was Sausenburg Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Sausenburg Castle was taken during several conflicts. In 1633 imperial troops captured it, and Swedish forces later took it after the surrender of Rötteln. In 1678, during the Franco-Dutch War, fighting in the region led to Sausenburg Castle burning out, and it was largely destroyed.

Which family or clan held Sausenburg Castle?

Sausenburg Castle was held by the counts of Hachberg from 1232. Their Hachberg-Sausenberg line was founded in 1306 and took its name from the castle. The family later moved to Rötteln Castle and established its advocates on the Sausenberg.

What did Sausenburg Castle look like in its prime?

At its prime, Sausenburg Castle was dominated by a tall cylindrical bergfried of grey-brown rubble stone, joined by coarse curtain walls to higher wall sections and a circular earthen rampart. Narrow slits and larger arched openings punctuated the walls. The castle formed an irregular stone silhouette on the wooded, grassy Sausenberg hilltop.

Is Sausenburg Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Sausenburg Castle is a ruin. What survives today is a circular earthwork, a single cylindrical tower and several wall fragments. The bergfried is a restored round tower about 19 metres high, while parts of the polygonal curtain wall and the outer bailey wall remain partly preserved or restored.

Can you visit Sausenburg Castle?

Sausenburg Castle can be visited as a local excursion site. Walking paths lead to the ruin from Kandern and Sitzenkirch, and it lies on the twelfth stage of the western Schwarzwald Westweg. Guided castle tours are also offered, while the bergfried can be climbed as a viewing tower.

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