Laubenbergerstein Castle

The ruin of the high to late medieval castle Laubenbergerstein (Laubenberg) is located about one kilometer north of Immenstadt in Allgäu (Oberallgäu district, Swabia) on a wooded hill above the Iller southwest of the district of Stein. The complex was renovated and partially rebuilt by the Immenstadt local history association from 1977 onwards.

The hilltop castle was probably founded as early as the 12th century by the bishops of Augsburg and occupied by a ministerialis. The fortification was probably intended to protect the important Iller crossing and the associated customs station.

In 1241, a Heinrich von Laubenberg zu Laubenbergerstein appears in a written source. The noble family of the Lords of Laubenberg also served the monasteries of St. Gallen and Reichenau in the 14th century. The family's ancestral castle was Alt-Laubenberg Castle near Grünenbach in Westallgäu.

As servants of the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg, the Lords of Laubenberg originally exercised only low jurisdiction in their dominion. In 1446, Emperor Frederick III, however, granted Kaspar von Laubenberg high jurisdiction. The fortress was therefore attacked and plundered several times in 1449 by the henchmen of the angry Count Hugo von Montfort. Count Hugo resided at the nearby twin castle Rothenfels-Hugofels and apparently regarded the elevation in status of the Laubenbergs as a provocation. In addition, Isald von Syrgenstein, the widow of Hans von Laubenberg, is said to have acquired the civil rights of the nearby imperial city of Kempten at that time. The Montforter was at feud with the city at this time. Originally, the Laubenbergs lived in good neighborly relations with the counts. Walter von Laubenberg auf Stein was even appointed bailiff at Rothenfels between 1400 and 1404.

Kaspar von Laubenberg, Isald's very wealthy son, began the major expansion of Laubenbergerstein from 1450 after the attacks. The castle's appearance has since been dominated by the mighty artillery keep, which was renovated and partially rebuilt from 1977 onwards.

During the German Peasants' War, the rebels occupied the castle in 1525 and stole several cannons and firearms, including some arquebuses.

In 1559, the Laubenbergs left the hilltop castle and moved into their newly built castle in Rauhenzell. In 1588, the family was elevated to the status of Imperial Barons. In a source from 1629, the castle complex is already described as a partial ruin. At that time, the Prince-Bishopric complained about the condition of the castle and commissioned the Fluhenstein bailiff Straub to inspect it. The turmoil of the Thirty Years' War probably prevented the subsequent required repair of the episcopal fief.

From 1641, Margaretha von Laubenberg sold the roof tiles, thus initiating its complete decay. In 1647, the Prince-Bishopric seized the fief after the extinction of the Alt-Laubenberg line. The family branch on Laubenbergerstein had already died out in 1629. Between 1667 and 1806, the ruin was owned by the Barons Pappus von Tratzberg. The year 1806 brought the transition to Bavaria. However, the state soon returned the complex to the barons. When this family died out in 1934, the castle came to the Barons von Lerchenfeld.

In 1977, the Immenstadt local history association acquired the ruins and began restoration with the participation of the city of Immenstadt. At that time, on the heavily overgrown castle grounds, mostly only relatively low wall sections and foundations could be identified. The high western part of the gun tower and the main gate in the east were also severely endangered.