Kaltenstein Castle

Kaltenstein Castle is located in the Baden-Württemberg municipality of Vaihingen an der Enz and, as its landmark, towers over the city.

The castle was first mentioned in a document as "castrum vehingen" (Vehingen Castle) in 1096. Until 1175, the castle was the seat of a Vaihingen noble family, then successively owned by the Counts of Calw-Löwenstein and the Counts of the then-young city of Vaihingen until 1291, before it was acquired by the Counts of Württemberg almost 40 years later in 1339. From then on, a chief bailiff appointed by the Counts permanently resided in the castle.

In the 16th and 18th centuries, Kaltenstein Castle was redesigned twice and its defensive strength reinforced. Until the end of the 18th century, the building served various purposes: as a military base (garrison) and military hospital (lazaret), and from 1843 as a workhouse. During the National Socialist era, "protective custody prisoners" were held in the castle in 1933; it also served to house prisoners of war in both World Wars. After the Second World War, the castle was taken over in 1949 by the Christian Youth Village Work of Germany (CJD) to serve as a youth, education, and social workshop for adolescents. At the end of 2013, the CJD terminated the rented rooms in the castle but continues to use its own facilities in the immediate vicinity of the castle.

The preserved curtain wall made of bossage masonry still stands today.