Winterstetten Castle

Winterstetten Castle, also known as Schenkenberg, Schenkenburg, or Burgrest Winterstettenstadt, is a castle ruin in the Rißtal valley above Winterstettenstadt, a district of Ingoldingen, in the Biberach district in Baden-Württemberg.

The hilltop castle was probably originally built by the Lords of Winterstetten. The last representative of this family was a Lord of Winterstetten, who appeared in the imperial retinue in 1181 and 1187.

Around 1214, the imperial ministerialis Konrad von Tanne, later also known as Konrad von Winterstetten, a confidant of Emperor Frederick II, received dominion over the castle. He was tutor to King Henry, "procurator" or "prefectus" of Swabia, guardian of the Imperial Regalia, and holder of the office of Schenk (cup-bearer), and became known, among other things, for founding Baindt Abbey.

His successor as lord of the castle and in the office of Schenk was Konrad von Schmalegg, who, however, died as early as 1243. One of his descendants, Schenk Konrad, was besieged by the Bishop of Constance in 1261 and ultimately had to become his vassal.

Dominion over the castle changed hands several times; before 1331, it fell to the House of Habsburg. After being pledged by the Austrians, it finally fell to the Truchsessen von Waldburg in 1438.

In the 15th century, the castle fell into disrepair, so it was demolished in 1759.