Hohenneuffen is to the east-northeast of Reutlingen, situated above the town of Neuffen. It is a fairly large fortification (claimed to be the largest ruin in Southern Germany) atop a lime rock crown on a solitary hill, thus giving it a dominant view of the surrounding countryside.
The castle itself is quite old, the first owner by name being recorded around 1100. Held first by the Neuffen family, it was transfered to the King of Wurttemberg in the 1300s. It withstood a number of sieges and attempts to storm it, until the Thirty Years War. In 1634, Imperialist forces besieged the fortress for just over a year before it surrendered on terms. Damaged, the fortress was slowly rebuilt, and soon the King of Prussia became interested in it in the 1730s. However, reconstruction projects were minimal, and the castle remained largely a ruin to this day.
A few "then and now" photos: the main entrance at right in 1975, and below in 2005. Unlike many other castles, Hohenneuffen saw an increase in vegetation around its walls over the last 30 years. Here is the official Hohenneuffen website.
To get into the main castle grounds, one must pass through a long tunnel and then walk a relatively recently built roadway that takes one over a ravine off of the castle wall. At one time Hohenneuffen's fortifications extended quite some distance down the slope of the hill.
Below, the same view across the Schwabishe Alb towards the Achalm (center). On the left, 2005; below 1975. Careful examination indicates an increase in trees along the woodline of the immediate valley.
