Minneburg

Neunkirchen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Germany

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Minneburg is a striking medieval hillcastle ruin perched on the "Schlossberg" mountain spur near Guttenbach in the Neckar Valley, administratively belonging to Neunkirchen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and stands about 110 meters above the river, making it significantly higher than most other castles along the Neckar.

First mentioned in writing in 1338-1339 when it was owned by the Rüdt von Collenberg family, the castle was likely founded during the late Staufer period in the first half of the 13th century to secure trade routes along the river. According to legend, the castle's romantic name honors the noble lady Minna von Horneck from Hornberg Castle, who allegedly fled here to a cave when forced into an arranged marriage with the Count of Schwarzenberg.

The castle reached its golden age under Wilhelm von Habern, who acquired it in 1518 and rebuilt it in Renaissance style starting in 1521, transforming it into a palace. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was partially destroyed by French troops after a siege by Bavarian forces in 1622, was soon abandoned, and fell into increasing decay, with partial demolition beginning in 1656.