Badenweiler Castle probably dates back to the Zähringen dynasty. In the 11th century the Dukes of Zähringen, who came from northern Swabia, conquered many areas. Among other things, they also came into the possession of what are today the regions "Markgräfler Land" and "Breisgau". The castle was first mentioned in a document in the early 12th century. In a deed of donation with the Monastery of St. Peter in the Black Forest as its beneficiary, which was signed by Duke Konrad of Zähringen in 1122, the "castro badin" is mentioned as the place of signing.
Badenweiler - copperplate engraving by Matthäus Merian, 1643
However, the history of the place Badenweiler dates back to classical antiquity. Around 70 AD the Romans discovered the healing springs and began to build numerous baths. The remains of these buildings are considered to be Germany's best preserved ruins of a bath. They can still be visited today and bear witness to Roman architecture and bathing culture.
With short interruptions, Badenweiler Castle was in the possession of the House of Zähringen until 1218. Their importance lay in their protective function for the surrounding silver mines. The Zähringen family castle was initially the Limburg near Weilheim on the Teck River, and beginning in 1091 Zähringen Castle built near Freiburg under Berthold II. The death of the childless Berthold V was followed by a phase of frequent change of ownership. The castle initially fell into the hands of the Counts of Freiburg. In 1303 it was transferred from them to the Counts of Strasbourg. These in turn transferred the possession to the Counts of Fürstenberg in 1363. Citizens of Freiburg purchased the castle from them in 1368 and left it to the Counts of Freiburg. The last Count of Freiburg, Count Johann Friedrich, transferred the rule over Badenweiler to his nephews Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Hugo of Hachberg-Sausenberg in 1444. Historians refer to this date as the birth of the "Markgräfler Land" region, consisting of the towns Rötteln, Sausenberg and Badenweiler.
Due to a testamentary contract, Badenweiler went to Margrave Christoph of Baden in 1503 following the death of the last Count of Hachberg-Sausenberg. The castle remained in the possession of this dynasty until the abdication of the last Grand Duke of Baden, Friedrich II, in 1918. Long since ruins, Badenweiler Castle went to the Republic of Baden and is the property of the state of Baden-Württemberg today.
The preserved castle walls allow conclusions to be drawn on the original ground plan of the complex. It consists of a main castle, which has been dated back to the early 12th century. At that time material from the nearby decayed Roman baths was used to build the castle. For this reason it was assumed in the early 19th century that the castle itself was also of Roman origin. Its most dominant and probably also its oldest section is the well-preserved Residence (Palas). The high remains of the wall contain late Romanesque window arches. Northeast of the palace lay the outbuildings, which were later combined to form a unit. A connected square wall to the southwest of the Residence is generally viewed as the Keep (Bergfried).
The castle courtyard located before the castle is surrounded by a thick rampart and several enclosure walls. The outer enclosure walls and the walls before the castle were probably built in the late Middle Ages.
In spite of being damaged several times, the castle survived both the Peasants' Wars in 1525 and the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century. Expanded to a strategic fortress complex for the region, it was besieged by the French in the Franco-Dutch War in 1678 and was destroyed shortly before their withdrawal by the army of the French Marshal Crecque. The castle was never rebuilt.
Probably a contemporary depiction; excavation of the Roman baths at the foot of the castle ruins around 1784, lithograph by Engelmann after Chapuis, 19th century.
