There are many stories about the Reichelsburg near Baldersheim, a district of Aub (district of Würzburg). They tell of a treasure, a frightened damsel and a soul that the devil took.
Many people probably also associate the ruins with very private memories – with romantic meetings on mild summer nights, tests of courage in dark vaults, tower ascents and sweeping views of the Gollach valley. Or with music, dance and boisterous celebrations – like recently at the Reichelsburg Festival.
The headquarters of the Hohenlohe-Brauneck line
Almost 800 years ago, the predecessor building appeared as “Reigirberc”, as Reichelsberg, in written sources for the first time. Around 1230 the castle is mentioned as belonging to the brothers Gottfried von Hohenlohe and Konrad von Hohenlohe-Brauneck. It was a fief of the diocese of Bamberg, from 1390 of the Bishopric of Würzburg. From 1521 the Reichelsburg became an official seat with an official.
The Hohenlohe were and are a well-known family in the region. Gottfried and his brother Konrad, who founded the Hohenlohe-Brauneck branch line, were among the followers of the Staufer Emperor Frederick II and accompanied him on his crusade of 1228/29.
The headquarters of the Hohenlohe-Brauneck line has been partially preserved and is located in a direct line around six kilometers south of Reichelsburg in the Main-Tauber district. However, Brauneck Castle is privately owned and cannot be visited. The Reichelsburg is always accessible.
The forest path leads past burial mounds that are around 2,600 years old
The mighty round keep is visible from the Gollach valley. It goes uphill on a dirt road. Once at the top, visitors are greeted by the charm of decay. A film set.
If you walk from Auber Castle on a narrow forest path to Reichelsburg, about one and a half kilometers away, you will pass around 2600-year-old burial mounds from the Hallstatt period and discover the keep only late, especially in summer when the leaves block the view. The foundations of the tower have been partially preserved. The tower itself was rebuilt.
The walls of the castle were once several meters thick. There are only remnants left. Stairs lead down from the courtyard into some vaulted dark rooms. In front of the keep there is a well about 15 meters deep.
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The rectangular castle complex was originally protected by a polygonal ward wall with seven side towers and surrounded by moats and ramparts. It was destroyed in the Peasants’ War in 1525 and partially rebuilt. In the 18th century the complex fell into disrepair.
“Many walls of houses, barns, gardens are built of Reichelsberg stones and call for atonement for such misdeeds.”
Joseph Zöllner, doctor in Aub, calls for the preservation of the castle in 1840–
Joseph Zöllner, doctor in Aub, called on July 22, 1840 to work in an association for the preservation of the building. He wrote of the destructive hands of unhistorical people and fools taking the stones for their homes. “Many walls of houses, barns, gardens are built of Reichelsberg stones and call for atonement for such misdeeds…”. The castle, which was still well preserved around 1800, had become a ruin and “almost a heap of rubble”. Zöllner’s words had no echo, he writes Local historian Richard Hoos in the Auber history sheets.
“Unknown master builders” attached a wall crown in 2009
Not only stones were fetched, but also brought some. In 2009, this editorial reported on “unknown master builders”. They had attached a mural crown – allegedly without permission. When a railing was to be put on it, the matter became public.
Representatives of the State Construction Office and the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments rubbed their eyes in astonishment. Likewise the mayor of Auber, who was presented with a bill. The Baldersheimer spoke of correct tenders and permits. The music community Baldersheim-Burgerroth organized the Reichelsburg Festival and therefore had to “clean up” the area. In the end, everything was restored to its original state. Reason: Nothing may be changed at the Reichelsburg, a first-class cultural asset. A modern local history.
The legend of a hammersmith who got involved with the devil
One of several stories about a hammersmith is much older. One is about his dealings with the devil. Which is why his former workplace is still called Teufelsschmiede today. It was located in the Gollach valley between the Reichelsburg and the town of Burgerroth in the south-west. Only the remains of the wall, overgrown with moss, have survived.
According to legend, in 1525 the blacksmith was supposed to make weapons for the rebellious peasants. But the order was too big. The devil offered himself as a journeyman and promised help. The condition was that the blacksmith gave him his soul. The blacksmith was able to deliver, lost his soul – and the peasants ultimately lost their rebellion and remained under the yoke of the authorities for centuries to come.
The true essence of the legend could be that a blacksmith supported the rebellious peasants in the storming of the Reichelsburg on April 22, 1525. As punishment, his hammer mill and mill are said to have been destroyed.
Stories of a lost “lady” and a dog guarding a treasure
In the legends, of course, a “castle damsel” should not be missing. She is said to have run down from the castle into the forest and lost her way. “When the need was greatest, a bell rang in the maid’s ear, and when she followed it, she happily reached the riverbank and found her way home again.” This is what is written in “Bavaria. Regional and folklore of the Kingdom of Bavaria”, published in 1866. Out of gratitude, the young woman donated a nocturnal bell in Aub.
Other stories are about a treasure on the Reichelsburg. He is guarded by a dog with fiery eyes. Anyone who wants to raise it must not say a word about it. Otherwise treasure and dog will disappear. It is said that nobody has found the treasure so far. But perhaps the person has simply not said a word about it and is secretly and quietly happy.
Another architectural treasure: the Kunigundenkapelle
Further treasures await not far from the Reichelsburg: of an architectural nature. Because the noble lords of Hohenlohe are also considered the builders of mysterious church buildings and even more mysterious legends.
This includes the Kunigundenkapelle, which Heinrich von Hohenlohe, the father of Gottfried and Konrad, is said to have had built. The chapel is only about four kilometers from the Reichelsburg in the district of the Auber district of Burgerroth. It is said that Empress Kunigunde (around 980 – around 1033) once let a veil fly in Bamberg. He got caught in a linden tree on the Altenberg, where the chapel named after the wife of Emperor Heinrich II found its place.
One of the extraordinary octagons goes back to Konrad von Hohenlohe-Brauneck: the octagonal Ulrichskapelle in Standorf near Creglingen. During the crusade, Konrad was inspired by the architecture of the Holy Land – like other crusade participants of the Franconian gentry before him. Because there are also octagons in Grünsfeld-Hausen and in Oberwittighausen: the Achatius and Sigismund chapels (all in the Main-Tauber district). The buildings should have something to do with giants. Or with the shroud of Christ. There are also references to the Kunigundenkapelle. But those are other stories.
All parts of the “Fabulous Places in Franconia” series are available at www.mainpost.de/legenhafte-orte
The ruins of Reichelsburg near Aub-Baldersheim
The keep is usually open on Sundays in the summer months (May to the beginning of September) from 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. If you want to climb the tower at other times: Information is available at (09335) 1417 (Neckermann) or from the city of Aub: (09335) 9710-0.
Source: City of Aub/cj
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