In the district of Oberallgäu in Swabia is the Sulzberg castle ruin, an impressive medieval ruin.
Story
The complex is located about 500 meters southwest of the town of Sulzberg and was originally the seat of the Lords of Sulzberg. The Sulzberg family was first mentioned in 1176 and the castle was probably built around 1170. It was later taken over by the Lords of Schellenberg and expanded further.
Despite its impressive size and history, the Sulzberg castle ruins are unfortunately only preserved as ruins today. Nevertheless, the remains of the former castle complex offer visitors a fascinating insight into the architecture and life in the Middle Ages. The ruins are also surrounded by a picturesque forest area that is perfect for hikes and excursions.
The three witches of Sulzberg
In olden days there lived three young ladies in Kempten's Sulzberg; they had a little house as nice and as clean as a parsonage and enough material that they did not need to work in the fields and only did embroidery "for the sake of reparation". In the church they had the front pew and acted so religiously that you would have thought how pious they were. Meanwhile they were arch-witches who had not acquired all their wealth by law. For years they caused harm to farmers far and wide with their witchcraft, so that now and then there was a shortage of things in the living room or stable.
In the parish, too, things were never right, and when the priest once complained about it at the inn, an old man who was sitting at the next table drinking a glass of schnapps heard it too. That would be easy to help, the strange little man now intervened. Yes, how? Yes, they should just let him go, he wouldn't ask for anything in return, at most a glass of schnapps. This was promised, and a nice gift as well. Then the little man performed a few ceremonies, read from a little book and immediately declared that there were three witches involved, but that he wanted to get to them now. He carried on with his work, and it wasn't long before people came and reported that terrible things were going on in the little house where the three young ladies lived. They rushed there, and sure enough, the devil was already on the point of taking the three young ladies who were considered so pious, and there was a terrible uproar and noise in the whole house. The priest then intervened, and it took a lot for him to prevent the worst from happening and drive the devil away. But the three young ladies were now unmasked and went abroad.
Source: Allgäu legends, from KA Reiser's "Legends, customs and proverbs of the Allgäu"
Access
There are a few parking spaces below the castle. From there it is not far on foot.
