Schauenforst Castle (Ruin) (Rödelwitz)

The castle ruin Schauenforst is a medieval castle ruin near Rödelwitz, a district of the municipality Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel, in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in East Thuringia.

Castle Complex
A special feature of the multi-part castle complex is its elongated shape: The ridge of the Schlossberg, on which it is built, is about 150 meters long, but only 5 to 35 meters wide. The summit is only accessible from the north without major problems. This access was secured by two walled defensive positions located on hills and by ditches, which are still partially recognizable today. The outer and main bailey were secured by a ring ditch, which was particularly deep and wide to the east.

The outer bailey, located in the northwest, was partly secured by double walls and separated from the main bailey by a Zwinger (outer ward) with a drawbridge. Presumably, the outer bailey primarily served as an economic courtyard.

The main bailey was dominated by a large round tower, directly next to the Zwinger, which is still relatively well preserved today and visible from afar. On the southeast side of the castle was the palas with a cellar, together with an outbuilding and the tower - the best-preserved part of the castle. Of the strong curtain walls between the buildings, only individual sections remain today. The cistern in the courtyard of the main bailey has collapsed. Additionally, during peacetime, there was probably a pipeline for spring water.

History
The theory that Schauenforst Castle was built in 1222 or 1223 by Landgrave Ludwig IV of Thuringia during a feud with Count Hermann II of Orlamünde is disputed today. However, archaeological finds suggest that the castle was built no earlier than the 13th century. It may have been built as a more comfortable and militarily more favorably located successor to an older fortification on the nearby Eichberg. The first written mentions of the "Lords of Schauenforst" from the Meldingen family as vassals of the Counts of Orlamünde date back to 1281. However, even then, they were probably only former inhabitants of the castle, as Heinrich V of Orlamünde already had his residence there in 1338. In the course of the Thuringian Counts' War, Heinrich lost his position as prince and became a vassal of Landgrave Friedrich II, but retained Schauenforst Castle as the only fortification in his possession, where he lived until his death in 1357. It is unclear whether the castle was destroyed during the Counts' War.

Until the middle of the 15th century, the castle had several owners. It may have been destroyed in the Saxon Fratricidal War. The remnants of the Schauenforst lordship shrank during this time until, at the end of the 15th century, the Reuss family from Plauen acquired the castle and Rödelwitz. At the end of the 16th century, the castle, which was already in a poor state, was first assigned to the Oberkranichfeld lordship and then pledged again. The condition continued to deteriorate, making the complex uninhabitable. Ownership changed hands several times again. The new owners were no longer interested in the castle, but only in the associated possessions, especially the surrounding vineyards. In 1663, the castle changed from Schwarzburg to Saxe-Gotha ownership, where it remained for a longer period. As part of the territorial division, Schauenforst, including the ruin, fell to the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the complex was damaged by treasure hunters. In 1835, Landeskammerrat Friedrich Gustav Vogt from Blankenhain acquired the castle and commissioned the first preservation work. In February 1881, Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Altenburg bought the entire area for the ducal Domanialfideikommiss. In 1913, major repairs were carried out on the curtain wall and tower.