Rietburg Castle

The construction of Rietburg is dated to the years 1200 to 1204 and attributed to the Lords of Riet, who were originally vassals of the Benedictine Abbey of Weißenburg and later served the Staufer rulers. Konrad II von Riet is considered the builder of the complex. After his death, his cousin Hermann von Riet took over the rule. In 1255, he became embroiled in conflict when he captured Queen Elisabeth, the wife of King Wilhelm. A coalition of regional princes forced him to release her, after which the castle was declared an imperial castle. Later, it passed to the Leiningen family and finally to the Prince-Bishopric of Speyer.