Steinberg (Swabian Alb)
Lookout tower on the site of the former Schalksburg
The Schalksburg (formerly also Schaltzburg or Schalksberg ) is a former hilltop castle, whose ruins located about six kilometers southeast of Balingen between Albstadt districts Burgfelden and running on the Eyach. The Schalksburg belongs to the area, the largest castle in the Swabian Alb.
Geographical Location
The castle is located 910 m above sea level. NHN on the outermost tip of Steinberg's 20-minute walk southwest of Burgfelden, one of the highest communities in the Swabian Alb. Burgfelden derives its name from the Schalksburg. The coat of arms of the village shows a dividing line symbolized the castle, the shield colors show the black and white of the lords of Zollern.
History
The Schalksburg was a stronghold of the Zollern and was at times the seat of the branch Zollern- Schalksburg of the aristocratic family.
First traces of settlement date from the Bronze and La Tène period. On the Schalksburg shards finds from the Middle Bronze Age, with findings and from the urnfield time (late Bronze Age ), from the Hallstatt and La Tène - ( Iron Age ) and Roman times were made.
In St. Michael's Church in Burgfelden there are Romanesque frescoes from the 11th century. Burgfelden was mentioned in 1064, first documented as Burchveld. The first foundation walls and tombs of St. Michael finds date from the time spätmerowingischen beginning of the 8th century. Probably the village originated from an ancient noble residence dating back to the 7th century out. Although the castle dates from the year 1100 and the first certifications of Schalksburg can be found only by Count Frederick V in the year 1266th, however, were probably before the year 900 fortifications at the site of the castle available.
After the division of the Hohenzollern line in 1288, Frederick I took, called the boy († 1308), at the castle his seat in the 14th century Schalksburg was called Castle and presented with three acres of expansion a powerful system dar.
In 1403 the rule Schalksburg with the city Balingen and 17 other villages was, inter alia Onstmettingen by Count Frederick V of Zollern- Schalksburg after the death of his only son for 28,000 florins to Count Eberhard III. († 1417 ) of Württemberg sold. The line of the counts of Zollern- Schalksburg became extinct with the death of Frederick V of Zollern- Schalksburg in 1408th
This transition of power to the Württemberg is betrayed into the legend of the florin, which was held by Gustav Schwab and Wilhelm Hauff - this the Sage only one guilders was paid by, however.
1464 the Schalksburg is destroyed by Niklas Graf Jos I. of Zollern during a feud with Hans von Rechenberg on behalf of Württemberg. 1465 was a reconstruction. In the German Peasants' War (1524-1526) Pfeffinger and Dürrwanger farmers have besieged and captured the Schalksburg. In 1557 the castle was canceled due to dilapidation, 1624, the castle is referred to only as a castle stables.
1957-1960 was built on the remains of the medieval donjon with the help of helicopters of the U.S. Army, a lookout tower.
From the edge of Albtrauf offers an amazing view over the Albvorland, the Eyachtal and Balinger mountains.
Description
From the former isosceles castle with the " Old Castle " in the western part located in the southern part still up to 3.50 meters high wall remains of the old donjon on an area of 7.7 by 7.5 meters and a wall thickness of 2.75 meters.