Surrounded by vines, the Strahlenburg rises above the town of Schriesheim as a landmark visible from afar. In 1235, the castle was built illegally by Conrad I on the land of the Ellwangen monastery. Therefore, he had to cede the land and the castle to the monastery at first, but later he received them back as a fief and founded the town of Schriesheim. In the 14th century, the Gothic Palas, the residential building including the knights’ hall, was built. After the Strahlenburg almost burned out in 1500, the remaining northern part was demolished in 1733. Today, the ruins house the castle inn, which offers a unique view over Schriesheim and the Rhine plain.
