Stettenfels Castle

Stettenfels Castle, a historic fortress, is located above Untergruppenbach in the Heilbronn district. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages, and today it is a venue for cultural events.

The origins of Stettenfels Castle lie in the 11th century, likely built at the same time as numerous other fortifications in the region. From 1356, it belonged to Burkhard, Knight of Sturmfeder, followed by the Lords of Helmstatt between 1462 and 1478. During the War of the Succession of Landshut in 1504, the castle fell to the Württembergers and was enfeoffed to Konrad Thumb von Neuburg in 1507. His son sold it in 1527 to Philipp von Hirnheim. A change occurred in 1551 with its acquisition by Anton Fugger, whose son Hans Fugger had the complex transformed into a Renaissance castle by master builder Wendel Dietrich in 1576. After a fire in 1594, the castle was rebuilt. In the 18th century, the Fuggers attempted to establish a Capuchin hospice, but its buildings were destroyed by Württemberg in 1735. Duke Karl of Württemberg acquired the complex in 1747, before it passed into the possession of the municipality of Gruppenbach in 1829.