Dillingen Castle

As early as the 10th century, a refuge castle stood on this site, offering protection to the populace from threats, particularly from Hungarian armies, and likely guarded a Danube crossing and the Danube road. In 937, Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg stayed as a guest in the "castellum Dilinga." The first documented mention of the castle dates to 1220, when it was owned by the Hupaldinger family, later known as the Counts of Dillingen. They erected two keeps and a palas, the core of which is preserved in the current north wing. In 1258, the complex was gifted by Hartmann V, Count and Bishop of Dillingen, to the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg, marking the beginning of a flourishing period for the castle and the city as a residence. Between 1458 and 1520, the medieval defensive castle was transformed into a Gothic castle-palace, with the north wing extended by the St. Johannes chapel and west and east wings added. Bishop Christoph von Stadion moved his residence to Dillingen in 1537.