Runstal Castle (Ruin)

The origins of Runstal Castle date back to the early 12th century, when it was first documented in 1111. The builders and first inhabitants were the Lords of Runstal, who served as ministeriales to the Dukes of Zähringen. In 1195, the castle changed hands when Konrad von Schwarzenberg sold it to Salem Monastery, where it was converted into a grange. In the mid-13th century, specifically 1259, Runstal came into the possession of the city of Villingen. The adjacent settlement was abandoned in the 14th century, and from the 16th century onwards, the complex was referred to merely as a 'Burgstall', indicating its gradual decay. A provisional excavation in 1942 uncovered massive stone structures, which possibly replaced an older wooden castle and were surrounded by a ring wall.