Burgruine Altenschönegg

Burgruine Altenschönegg is located in Oberschönegg, Germany, and was originally constructed by medieval German nobility. The earliest known records date the castle’s existence to 1220, when it served as the residence of the Herren von Schönegg, a ministerial family within the Holy Roman Empire. By 1237, this family held their position as vassals under the Counts Palatine of Tübingen, who controlled nearby fortresses including Burg Kellmünz and Burg Babenhausen.

In the later 13th century, the Herren von Schönegg expanded their influence beyond the castle, founding the Frauenkloster Klosterbeuren, a nearby convent, in 1273. However, conflict soon befell the site. Historical accounts report that King Rudolf von Habsburg ordered the destruction of Altenschönegg in 1281. The castle faced additional assault in 1319 at the hands of citizens from the nearby town of Memmingen, reflecting regional unrest and challenges to feudal authority.

Following the extinction of the Herren von Schönegg family’s male line, the castle passed into ecclesiastical hands. Beginning in 1355, it became the administrative center, or Pflegamt, of the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg. This role persisted through several decades, including a period from 1395 to 1462 when the property was pledged to the noble Herren von Aichelberg and later managed by the bishop’s steward, Stain von Ronsperg. During this era, the castle’s chapel, dedicated to Saint Burkard, was reportedly destroyed by Memmingen citizens amid conflict that took place around 1388 and 1389.

Throughout the 15th century, Altenschönegg stood at the center of several violent episodes. It experienced destruction inflicted by Ulm citizens in 1446 and further damage in 1462 during a dispute between Emperor Friedrich III and Duke Ludwig IX. Despite these challenges, the castle remained the seat of the Augsburg diocese’s local administration until the early 19th century, underscoring its continued political importance.

In the 19th century, the castle’s remaining tower underwent a transformation under Prince Anselm Maria Fugger von Babenhausen. On June 3, 1809, he acquired the 30-meter tall bergfried, restored the damaged structure, and repurposed it as an observation tower commonly called the Römerturm, or “Roman Tower.” The Fugger family, notable landowners in the region, also controlled the nearby village of Weinried, linking the castle’s legacy with local noble estates.