Ratzenried Castle

Ratzenried castle was likely built at the beginning of the 12th century, with the Lords of Ratzenried first mentioned in 1145. It may have been constructed for the same reason as Burg Praßberg near Wangen im Allgäu, initiated in 1123, to secure the estates of St. Gallen Monastery in the region and collect farm tributes. The Ratzenrieders, also vassals of the monastery, disappeared by the late 13th century, but subsequent owners retained the Ratzenried name. They lost the castle around 1350, relocating to East Allgäu.

From 1353, the Lords of Molpertshausen occupied the castle, officially granted by the Abbot of St. Gallen to Hans von Molpertshausen in 1369. However, around a decade later, the castle was sold again, passing to the Humpis von Ravensburg family in 1453, who later adopted the name Humpis von Ratzenried in the 16th century. In 1502, Jos Humpis von Ratzenried spent 11,000 guilders to restore the dilapidated castle, owning it until 1647.

During the Thirty Years' War in 1632, the Swedes burned down Burg Razenried, and due to financial reasons, it was not rebuilt. In 1806, the castle passed to the Kingdom of Bavaria, but in 1810, Bavaria ceded the lordship of Ratzenried to Württemberg. In 1813, it transferred to the Beroldingen Counts and, in 1908, the Waldburg-Zeil Counts inherited the castle.

Description: The prominent mountain spur was ideal for a castle, possibly used as a defensive rampart even in pre-Christian times. The appearance of the first medieval castle is unknown, and details about a purported reconstruction around 1220, supposedly initiated by a Staufer Duke, are also unclear. It is assumed that traces of the old keep remain, and the outer walls with arrow slits and the keep likely have roots in earlier structures.

Address

Platz 1, Ratzenried, Germany

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)