Alttrauchburg Castle Ruins – Lost Stronghold of the Waldburg Dynasty

Описание: A full video about Alttrauchburg can be found on my Channel: ‪@TimelessExplorations‬

Description:
Hidden in the woods near Weitnau lies the ruined castle of Alt-Trauchburg. Its origins date back to around 1150, when a new branch of the noble Rettenberg family emerged and adopted the name "von Trauchburg." One of its most notable members was Berthold von Trauchburg, who served as governor for Emperor Frederick II in 1224.

In 1258, the castle came into the possession of the Counts of Veringen, who sold it in 1306 to the stewardly Waldburg family. They made it the seat of their newly founded line, Waldburg-Trauchburg.

Although the fortress survived the wars of the 16th and 17th centuries without significant damage, it was dismantled between 1784 and 1788 by its then-owners, the Waldburg-Zeil family. The stonework was repurposed to build the nearby palace of Neu-Trauchburg.

The oldest parts of the castle date from around 1200 to 1220. During the 14th century, the complex was expanded, including the addition of a tower on a hill to the south and a new outer bailey. A strong curtain wall secured the northern side, facing the valley.

Between 1480 and 1500, the fortress was modernized to withstand artillery. New defensive walls with gun emplacements were added, along with auxiliary buildings on the western side, including the so-called "Kitchen Tower." A northern plateau may have once held the original 13th-century outer bailey.