Eberstein Castle

Built in 1272, Eberstein Castle thrones high over the town of Gernsbach. Legends and tales aplenty tell of the lords and ladies who once ruled there. One says that Count Eberhard the Bearded was supposed to have led a bitter struggle against the "Schlegler" clan, whose chieftain was Wolf von Eberstein. Eberhard laid siege to Eberstein Castle. Count Wolf von Eberstein managed to escape his enemy's superior forces and sure capture through a daring leap on horseback over the castle's steep face into the Murg River. Some of these legends can be recalled along the "Gernsbacher Sagenweg", a roughly 13-km walking tour.

Today Eberstein Castle is a popular destination for outings, with a fantastic view down into the valley. The rights of proprietorship held by the Margrave of Baden were not transferred to private hands until 2000. Yet another relict dating back to Count von Eberstein is the "Ebersteiner Rose", still to be found in Gernsbach's coat of arms and on many of the town's buildings.

Erected in the second half of the 13th century as a fortified complex, Eberstein Castle was continuously expanded and converted by its owners during the centuries that followed. Nowadays the castle complex is composed of buildings from a wide variety of epochs.

Rare species of trees can be admired round about the castle along the educational walkway dedicated to arboriculture in the "Arboretum Schloss Eberstein".

Info

Touristinfo Gernsbach
Igelbachstraße 11
76593 Gernsbach, FRG
Telefon: +49 (0) 7224 644-44
Fax: +49 (0) 7224 644-64
E-Mail: touristinfo@gernsbach.de
Internet: www.gernsbach.de