Ruine Straubenhardt

Neuenbürg, Germany, Germany

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Ruine Straubenhardt near Neuenbürg, Germany, is a vanished lowland castle ruin dating back to the 11th century, situated above the confluence of the Rotenbach stream and the Enz River in a deep forest on a spur, originally part of a network of medieval fortifications in the northern Black Forest region. Inhabited until the 15th century, it was destroyed in 1384 on orders of Count Eberhard amid feudal conflicts, leaving only subtle traces like scattered wall stones, earthen ramparts, building foundations, and a prominent deep neck ditch that once protected it from attackers. Today, the minimal remains—more a "pile of stones" than a dramatic ruin—serve as a hiking highlight within the Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord, accessible via forested trails from Neuenbürg and offering a quiet glimpse into early medieval history despite scant visible structures.