Neuenfels Castle

Neuenfels Castle is the ruin of a noble castle about 1500 meters southeast of Britzingen, a district of the town of Müllheim in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district in Baden-Württemberg.

The castle ruin is located on a mountain spur 595.1 meters above sea level in the immediate vicinity of Badenweiler. Via the "Schwärze", between Britzingen and Badenweiler, the castle ruin can be reached after a 30-minute walk with a height difference of 164 meters. A prepared viewing platform with an orientation board on the battlements of the castle offers a magnificent panoramic view over the Markgräflerland, including a beautiful view of the opposite castle of Badenweiler and the Hochblauen. On a clear day, the view extends from the Swiss Jura to the suburbs of Freiburg.

The spur castle was probably built around 1300 by the Lords of Neuenfels, first mentioned in 1343, and has been in ruins since 1540. The castle complex was box-shaped with rounded corners and had a core castle of about 30 by 9 meters, without a keep. The moat, remnants of the front wall, and the tower are still preserved from the castle. It never had military significance but was used as a residence. During the Middle Ages, the Lords of Neuenfels, who have been documented as "de Nuwenfels" since 1307, performed various functions in the surrounding region, such as castle bailiffs of the Lordship of Badenweiler, mayors of Neuenburg, district governors of Rötteln, abbots of St. Trudpert, judges, or priests here and there. But they did not become rich from it. For a time, the castle is said to have belonged to the Count of Strassberg, who, as Lord of Badenweiler, helped shape the coat of arms of Badenweiler. They paid him rent for the use of Neuenfels Castle. The last representative of the noble family of Neuenfels, Knight Christoph von Neuenfels, was heavily indebted and sold the forest around the castle to Britzingen at the beginning of the 16th century.