Burg Lichtenfels

Burg Lichtenfels stands above Dornhan and was probably founded in the 12th century by regional medieval nobility, most likely the Counts of Hohenberg.

In its early history the castle was held by a local noble family called von Lichtenfels. That family was related to the Herren von Dettingen and used the same coat of arms, with heraldic representations recorded in the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries.

The fortress suffered major violence in 1298 when it was destroyed during the Battle of Leinstetten. In the decades that followed control of the site changed hands; by 1423 parts of the property were recorded as belonging to the Counts of Zollern.

Fighting returned in the 15th century when Countess Henriette of Württemberg laid siege to the castle and Count Friedrich of Zollern was taken prisoner. The site was left in a ruined state and was not rebuilt as a principal residence; the local seat of habitation shifted to Schloss Leinstetten and the hilltop stronghold fell out of use.

At the end of the 20th century the ruin passed into the ownership of the Freiherrn von Podewils and underwent a comprehensive renovation.