{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox military installation |name = Katzenstein Castle |location = Dischingen, Heidenheim |nearest_town = |country = Germany |image = Burg Katzenstein (Dischingen) 010.jpg |alt = Aerial view |caption = Aerial view |coordinates = {{coord|48|43|25|N|10|23|30|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |pushpin_map = Baden-Württemberg#Germany |pushpin_map_alt = Location in Baden-Württemberg |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Baden-Württemberg |open_to_public = Yes |built = 11th Century |used = 1099-1939 |builder = House of Hohenstaufen |materials = Stone |fate = Privately owned since 1939 |website = {{url|http://www.burgkatzenstein.de/en}} }}

thumb|250px|Burg Katzenstein on the hill above the village Katzenstein '''Katzenstein Castle''' is one of the oldest remaining Hohenstaufen castles in Germany.<ref>[http://www.live-like-a-german.com/points_of_interest/show/737/dischingen/katzenstein-castle Live Like a German.com]{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> It is located in a borough that shares its name with the castle in the Dischingen municipality of the Heidenheim district of Baden-Württemberg. The castle is open to visitors and contains several dining rooms as well as hotel rooms.

==Location== This hill castle is located in the valley of a tributary of the Egau river on the Härtsfeld in Heidenheim district near an old Roman road running from Faimingen in Lauingen to Bopfingen known as the Frankensträßle ({{langx|en|Frankish avenue}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.burgkatzenstein.de/en|title=Herzlich Willkommen auf der Stauferburg Katzenstein &#124; Burg Katzenstein|access-date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2016-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021195241/http://burgkatzenstein.de/en|url-status=dead}}</ref> Burg Katzenstein is located {{convert|538|m|ft}} above sea level.

==History== In 1099, the ''Lords von Cassenstein'' were first mentioned. The family was a ministerial or unfree knightly family in the service of the Graf (or Count) von Dillingen.<ref name="Dorr">{{cite book|last=Dörr |title=Schwäbische Alb: Bergen, Schlösser, Ruinen|publisher=E. Schwend GmbH & Co.|year= 1988|location=Schwäbisch Hall, Germany|pages=29, 30|isbn=3-616-06727-8}}</ref> In 1262, ''Edlen von Hürnheim'' was listed as the owner of the castle ''von Katzenstein'' when it was sold by ''Hermann von Hürnheim-Katzenstein''.

Ownership changed again in 1354 when the ''Graf von Oettingen'' acquired the castle. He quickly pawned the castle on the ''Graf von Helfenstein'', who gave the castle to ''Berthold von Westerstetten'' in 1382. In 1572, the Katzenstein line wiped out the Westerstetten line. The inheritance of the Westerstetten family was sold again to the ''von Oettingen'' family.

The castle was burned to the ground by French soldiers in 1648, at the end of the Thirty Years' War.<ref name="Dorr"/> The castle was rebuilt in 1669.

Burg Katzenstein went to the Oettingen-Wallenstein line in 1798. Later, in 1810, the castle was taken over by the state of Württemberg and placed under the district of Neresheim.

Since 1939, the castle has been privately owned.

thumb|upright=2|The inner courtyard of Burg Katzenstein

==Sights== In 1973, the St Laurentius chapel was opened and cleaning began. Under the dirt and partially completed Baroque paintings, impressive Mediaeval paintings were discovered.<ref name="Dorr"/> The fresco paintings date from 1250 to 1280 and show the transition from Romanesque art to early Gothic art.

==See also== *List of castles in Baden-Württemberg

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading == * {{in lang|de}} Max Müller, Gerhard Taddey (Hrsg.): ''Handbuch der historischen Stätten Deutschlands, Band Baden-Württemberg''. Kröner, Stuttgart 2. Aufl. 1980. {{ISBN|3-520-27602-X}} * {{in lang|de}} Michael-Nikolaus-Nomidis Walter, Burgverwalter Burg Katzenstein: ''Geschichte und Beschreibung der Burg Katzenstein''. MissionsDruckerei&Verlag Mariannhill, Reimlingen

==External links== {{Commons category|Burg Katzenstein|Katzenstein Castle}} * {{in lang|de}} [http://www.burgkatzenstein.de/ Burg Katzenstein (in German)] * {{in lang|de}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080530195442/http://www.dischingen.de/die-gemeinde/geschichte/geschichte_katzenstein_statisch.html Dischingen Town website] * {{in lang|de}} [http://www.stauferstelen.net/texts/strasse-der-staufer.htm Hohenstaufen trail]

{{Castles in Heidenheim}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Historic house museums in Baden-Württemberg Category:Ministeriales Category:Castles in Heidenheim (district)