Hellenstein Castle

Hellenstein Castle is located 70 meters (230 ft) above the city of Heidenheim an der Brenz in eastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

In 1901 the former castle church was acquired by the Folk and Ancient History Society of Heidenheim as a museum.

[3] The site is first mentioned in 1096 by Gozbert de Halensteine whose family may have built the castle in the early 12th century.

Ulrich I. von Württemberg ordered that the castle be rebuilt a few years later; the reconstruction lasted from 1537 to 1544.

[4] During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) the castle was damaged and the complex water supply system was destroyed.

In 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, a French officer with 10,000 men again attempted to take the castle.

The commander finally determined that Hellenstein would be too costly to attack, and retreated without firing a shot.

In 1593 Frederick I commissioned the Bavarian court painter Friedrich Sustris to paint the walls and ceiling of the round tower.

The castle also hosted many prominent guests including Albrecht von Wallenstein (in 1630), Prince Eugene of Savoy (in 1702), Archduke Charles of Austria, (in 1796)[1] and Napoleon Bonaparte (in 1805).

Unfortunately, the wall and ceiling paintings by Friedrich Sustris were destroyed when the upper floor was removed.

Professor Eugene Gaus of the Folk and Ancient History Society founded the museum with a number of items from his own excavations.

[5] The castle museum includes a theatre which shows movies about the history of Heidenheim, local ancient artifacts, religious art, antique toys and Alfred Meebold's Indian Collection.