Strahlenburg Castle

Around 1235, Conrad I von Strahlenberg began constructing the Strahlenburg as the ancestral seat of his family. Five years later, in 1240, he was first documented as Vogt of Schriesheim. The castle was a fief of Ellwangen Abbey, and the originally 30-meter-high keep and the inner part of the complex date from this early construction phase. The palas was likely added in the 14th century. Financial difficulties forced Rennewart von Strahlenberg in 1329 to pledge the castle and the village to Hartmut von Cronberg, who carried out renovations until his death in 1338. Although a purchase agreement was concluded between Mainz and a son of the Cronbergs in 1346, Rennewart managed to redeem the castle by settling the debt, but sold it to Ruprecht the Elder as early as 1347. In 1468, ownership passed to the Veldenzers under Ludwig von Veldenz.