Alttrauchburg Castle (Ruin)

The ruin of Alttrauchburg Castle, also known as Alt-Trauchburg or Trauchburg, is located above the Kleinweiler district of Weitnau in the Oberallgäu district in Swabia. Significant remains of the walls of the high to late medieval castle complex are still preserved. The ruin is one of the best-preserved in the Allgäu.

The hilltop castle probably goes back to a predecessor complex of the Counts of Veringen and Nellenburg. This fortress first appears in written sources in 1041. It was probably located elsewhere nearby; the later castle site seems to have been settled only in the 13th century.

Around 1150, a branch of the Lords of Rettenberg was enfeoffed with the lordship and henceforth called themselves "von Trauchburg". At the beginning of the 13th century, Berthold von Trauchburg moved the castle to its current location and built a fortified house or a residential tower here. Berthold was procurator of Swabia in 1224 under Emperor Frederick II.

As early as 1258, the fief passed to the Truchsesses of Waldburg, who were able to acquire the lordship from the indebted counts in 1306. The tower-like core building was now extended and built over. In the south, the spacious outer bailey with the advanced strong square tower was built.

Subsequently, the Waldburgers usually inhabited the castle themselves or had it administered by bailiffs (1418 Hans von Mühlegg). In 1429, Trauchburg came to the Jakobian line of the House of Waldburg. Some castle lords are described in the sources as "bad housekeepers", meaning they were in constant financial difficulties.

During the Peasants' War, Trauchburg was plundered and damaged in 1525. In 1546, the troops of the Schmalkaldic League occupied the castle. For these reasons, a Zwinger (outer ward) system was built around the core castle in the 16th century, reinforced by artillery rondels. The fortifications of the outer bailey were also strengthened on this occasion.

In the main castle, two stair towers were built, and numerous elaborate alterations made Trauchburg a representative center of power. In 1628, the Waldburgers acquired the imperial count title and moved to their castle in Kißlegg in 1690.

In 1729, the vacant Trauchburg was used as a quarry for the new castle construction in Kißlegg. Further parts were demolished between 1784 and 1788 for the new construction of Neu-Trauchburg Castle near Isny.

In 1772, the Jakobian line of the Waldburgers died out with Count Franz Carl Eusebius. The inheritance went to the line of the Counts of Waldburg-Zeil. The castle is still owned by this family today.

In 1985, the market town of Weitnau began with the renovation and development of Trauchburg. From 1991, these measures were coordinated with the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, the Thierhaupten Building Archive, and the Office for Castle Research Dr. Zeune (Eisenberg).