Buttenheim Castle

Originally, there were two castles in Buttenheim, the Upper and Lower Castles, both owned by the Imperial Barons of Stiebar, whose lineage dates back to 1253. The Upper Castle was destroyed in the Peasants' War in 1525 and never rebuilt. Today's Buttenheim Castle is the former Lower Castle, acquired by the Stiebars in 1438, having previously served as a keep for the Lichtensteins. It suffered several destructions by fire, including in 1492 during a feud, in 1525 by rebellious peasants, and in 1561 due to the carelessness of a servant. Hans Joachim von Stiebar had the damages repaired in 1574. The Stiebar family adopted the Lutheran faith early on, evidenced by the employment of a Protestant preacher in 1591. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was confiscated in 1630 but returned to the Stiebars in 1648 through the Peace of Westphalia.