Circular Hike to the Ruins of Schnellerts Castle

The ruins of Schnellerts Castle lie just to the north-east of the small Odenwald village of Stierbach, part of the community of Brensbach.  The castle is easily reached by way of a circular hike of 5.6 kilometres from the nature car park, Wildgehege.  To reach the car park, take the L3260 to Stierbach where you will see signs along the main road directing you to Burg Schnellerts. Wildgehege car park lies at the end of the small road, Schnellertsberg.   You can find a trail guide for the Number 6 circular path below.

Schnellerts Castle

Remains of the Bergfried

The ruins of Schnellerts castle lie in a grove at the highest point of the small Schnellerts mountain, from which the castle takes its name. The castle, made famous in the ghostly Rodensteiner sagas (read about the sagas here , was likely built at the beginning of the 13th century, probably by the Lords of Crumbach (later Rodenstein) as protection against incursions by the nobles of Erbach into the territory.  The castle was completely destroyed in the 14th century.  

Reconstruction of Schnellerts Castle

Though very little of the original structures remain, archaeologists have been able to determine the layout of the small complex, which had, in addition to a round Bergfried (similar to a keep but without a residential component), a horse stall and two half-timbered buildings with tiled roofs.   The Bergfried lay at the eastern ring wall and had a diameter of 6.4 meters and walls 2.5 meters thick. The structure lacked a ground-level entrance and, in addition to its defensive uses, could have been used as a prison. The entire complex was surrounded by a hexagonal ring wall and a dry moat, though evidence of the moat is difficult to make out in the landscape today. Entrance to the castle would have been from the west, secured by a timbered gatehouse.

The first documented mention of the castle was not until 1742 in the Reichenberger Protokollen. In 1745, a note was made that there were only a few “Rutera” to be seen from the old castle, and in 1747, it is recorded that the ruin belonged to Count von Erbach-Schönberg. However, one of the more notable mentions has to be the official report of the Schnellerts’ ghost moving through the barns of the neighbouring farm, Haalhöfe.

Archaeological excavations and efforts to protect the castle have taken place since the 19th century and continue to this day.  In addition to the castle ruins, the complex now contains a covered shelter, picnic table and informational placards for visitors.  The Schnellerts Castle association, Forschungsgemeinschaft Schnellerts e.V., supports the preservation of the ruins and informs the public about the castle’s history and the work being done there.  To learn more about Schnellerts and see the artefacts that have been found at the site, you can also visit the Schnellerts Museum, located in the old town hall/school next to the church at Höchsterstrasse 3, Brensbach.

Circular Walk Number 6 - Trail description

Once you reach the Wildgehege car park, you will see a directional board which lists the walks on offer from this point.  In addition to circular walk 6, there is a 2.6 kilometre and a 4.4 kilometre circular walk, though neither go directly to the ruins.

The Yellow Number 6 Trail Will Take You Past Schnellerts Castle

In order to reach the castle you will need to follow the number 6. Start off along the paved road to the west. Follow the curve of this track as it takes you through a small wooded area. You will come to an orchard and a pasture. Continue to follow the road until you come to the top of the hill, where you will make a right, putting you in an easterly direction. From this vantage point, you get a lovely view behind you to over the Gersprenz Valley.  

View Over the Gersprenz Valley

Continue east along the trail until you come to a cemetery.  You will pass by the cemetery on the left side, still headed east.  When you come to the next fork, make a right onto the dirt path.  Be sure to turn around occasionally before you reenter the forest as you will be able to see across Frankfurt and over to the Taunus.  The path you are on turns into a paved track.  Continue straight, passing the first junction you see.   The small village of Böllstein is visible to your left.  At the next junction, make a left and walk south for 100 meters and then take the first right turn, which will soon send you back into the forest.  

After you enter the forest, be on the lookout for a right turn that leads off from the wider trail.  A short walk along this path leads to a fork in the trail.  Take the right fork on to a single-track leading up towards the castle, which you will enter from the eastern side.  The trail takes you through the small castle complex.

After visiting the ruins, exit the site through the west gate.  At the bottom of the gate, turn right at the junction.  This will put you on a gravel track.  Continue on this path until you come to a fork in the road, where you will make a very sharp left turn.  Follow this trail down the mountain until you come to the edge of the holiday village. Here turn left and follow the paved road back down to the car park.

Sources:

“Burg Schnellerts – Forschungsgemeinschaft Schnellerts e. V.” Burg Schnellerts — Forschungsgemeinschaft Schnellerts e. V., 2017, www.schnellerts.de/.

“Historisches Ortslexikon.” Historisches Ortslexikon : Erweiterte Suche : LAGIS Hessen, 25 Aug. 2014, www.lagis-hessen.de/de/subjects/idrec/sn/ol/id/14080.