Gutenstein Castle

Gutenstein Castle is a castle complex above the town of Gutenstein and is located in the Sigmaringen district (Baden-Württemberg).

The building has a T-shaped floor plan with three gables and is a three-story plastered limestone building in a spur position. The complex is surrounded by a rectangular castle wall, with a freestanding round tower on the north wall. A now-buried shaft, which was probably used for water supply and for other purposes in times of war, led through the castle rock to the Danube.

Gutenstein Castle was probably built in the 16th century (documented from 1626) and rebuilt in the classical style in the early 18th century by Franz Ludwig Schenk von Castell, the so-called "Malefizschenk". In 1834, due to financial difficulties, it was sold to Ludwig von Langenstein, a son of the Grand Duke Ludwig I of Baden. By inheritance, it finally came to the Counts of Douglas in 1872.

An Obervogteiamt (senior bailiff's office) was established in the castle as an administrative center for the villages of Gutenstein, Engelswies, Ablach, and Altheim, which were united to form the "Lordship of Gutenstein". The Gutenstein Obervogteiamt existed until the lordship passed to Baden in the wake of the Peace of Pressburg in 1806.

The castle is not accessible. In 1978, the dilapidated property was sold by the House of Douglas to Manfred Klietmann, who in turn sold the renovated and restored castle at the end of 2005, with approximately 700 m² of living space and a plot of 12,000 m², to a private individual from Reutlingen.