Liebeneck Castel

The Liebeneck Castle Ruin is the ruin of a high medieval spur castle in the southwestern part of the Heckengäu, a forest area southeast of the Würm district of Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg.

The castle ruin is located on a hill above the Würm with a view over the Würmtal. It lies in a protected forest at 415m above sea level. The Liebeneck ruin cannot be reached by car; only forest paths (e.g., the Ostweg) lead there.

The original castle complex was probably built in the 12th century. The first documented mention occurred in 1236 on the occasion of the transfer of the castle and the village of Würm from the Lords of Weißenstein zu Kräheneck to Margrave Rudolf of Baden. The castle was intended to protect the raft toll station established on the river. Later, the castle became a hereditary fief of the Lords of Weißenstein and then came into the possession of the Lords Leutrum von Ertingen.

In 1692, during the War of the Palatine Succession (Orleans'schen Krieg), the castle burned down. In 1828, it was transferred to the Baden state. The complex was subsequently systematically destroyed so that "riff-raff would not find shelter there" (see information board). Between 1968 and 1977, the 30m high keep was renovated.