Welcome to Turmberg Castle Ruins
**The Turmberg** is the local mountain of the former Baden royal seat of Durlach. It is 256 meters high and the northwesternmost peak of the Black Forest at the transition between the low mountain range and the Kraichgau hill country. **The Turmberg** is a popular **destination for excursions** and can be reached via various paths. The mountain can be climbed via the "Hexenstäffele," a stairway with 536 steps leading directly from Durlach to the Turmberg. Several beautiful **hiking trails** invite visitors to take a walk around the mountain. A large playground and the forest rope park, completed in 2010, round off the attractions.
## Turmberg Terrace From the top, there is a **wonderful view of the Rhine Valley** and the urban areas of Durlach and Karlsruhe. Visitors can enjoy the best view from the Turmberg Terrace, which was redesigned in 2015 to mark the city's anniversary. In 2017, the viewing platform was awarded the Hugo Häring Prize by the Association of German Architects for its outstanding design.
## Turmberg Ruins The Turmberg takes its name from an old tower built in the late Staufer period. During excavations, the foundations of a tower that was 200 years older were found right next to it. These are the remains of the "castrum Gretzingen," i.e., the castle of Grötzingen. The Pfinzgau counts from the Hohenberg dynasty had their seat here in the 11th and 12th centuries and exercised sovereign rights on behalf of the Salian kings. The residential tower was **one of the earliest noble hilltop castles** in southwestern Germany, which testifies to the self-confidence of its owners. Between 1230 and 1250, the old residential tower was demolished and replaced by a slimmer keep integrated into the surrounding wall.
Today's **28-meter-high tower** is characterized by the robust and fortified-looking bossed blocks with clean edges typical of the Staufer period. The new lords in the 13th century, the Margraves of Baden, initially still occasionally held office at the castle, which was now called "castrum Durlach." However, after it was conquered several times in the 1270s, they increasingly preferred the town of Durlach, where they built a moated castle. When Margrave Karl II moved his residence there in 1556 and had Karlsburg Castle built, the old castle was left with only the function of a watchtower. A platform was added with the help of a 13-meter-high pillar to install an alarm cannon. **The tower on Durlach's Turmberg has been reopened since June 13, 2025.** It can be visited from April 16 to October 14 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. From October 15 to April 15, the opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ### **Tip** **At "[Anders auf dem Turmberg](http://www.anders-turmberg.de/)," you can enjoy the finest cuisine prepared by celebrity chef Sören Anders!**
Source: DZT Knowledge Graph
