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Veste Otzberg
Veste Otzberg
Closed temporarily for renovation
Otzberg Castle, first mentioned in 1231, is located on a striking basalt cone in the northern Odenwald forest. Its characteristic light-colored keep, popularly known as the “White Turnip,” dominates the appearance of the complex and offers sweeping views as far as Frankfurt and the Taunus mountains. It is the only building from the early construction period after 1220, when the Imperial Abbey of Fulda built the fortress. In the politically fragmented region, Otzberg changed hands several times and served as a military base for the Palatinate Counts and Counts of Hanau. Unlike castles, the fortress was occupied by burgraves, who took over its defense on behalf of the respective rulers. It was expanded until 1618, but capitulated in 1622 during the Thirty Years' War. Later, it became a Hessian barracks and state prison, but fell into disrepair from 1826 onwards. The keep, parts of the ring walls, a well at least 50 meters deep, the commander's house from 1574, and the remains of the barracks and band house have been preserved.