Ronneburg Castle () is a castle in Ronneburg in the Main-Kinzig district of Hesse, Germany. It is a hilltop castle situated near the near Altwiedermus village on a steep basalt cone. Its position makes it visible from afar. It lends its name to the Ronneburg hill country.
Originally founded in the 13th century as a Mainz castle to secure the territory, Ronneburg Castle came under the ownership of the Ysenburgs in 1476. Its greatest significance was in the 16th century when it served as the residence of the Ysenburg-Büdingen-Ronneburg collateral line. The castle showcases Renaissance architecture, including the distinctive domed helmet of the keep, the Zinzendorf Building, and the New Bower. During the Thirty Years' War, the core castle was substantially damaged by fire, and a few years later, it was plundered. Subsequently, Ronneburg Castle lost its role as a fortress and noble seat, becoming a refuge for social fringe groups like the Moravian Brethren. Its status as a historical monument was acknowledged around 1900. The well-preserved medieval and early modern castle buildings have since made it a popular regional excursion destination
Location
The Ronneburg is situated to the east of the Ronneburger Hügelland, a distinct natural region named after the castle. This area is characterized by a flat landscape located between the Wetterau and the Büdinger Forest, gradually ascending towards the northeast in the direction of the Vogelsberg. The castle complex occupies the summit of a prominent basalt cone, approximately 237 meters above sea level, overlooking the Fallbach Valley, which lies around 160 meters above sea level. To the southwest of the castle, the valley opens into fertile farmland, while the eastern slope, known as Am Steinkopf, reaches a height of 269 meters above sea level and is covered in forest. Historically, significant trade routes, such as the Hohe Straße or Reffenstraße, traversed the valley, with the castle as a monitoring point.
History of the castle
Foundation as a castle of the Electorate of Mainz
The earliest documented reference to the castle dates to either 1231 or 1258 when a Burgmann from the Rüdigheim family identified himself as "de Roneburg" after the castle. However, the fortification likely predates this mention. It is believed to have been built by the lords of Büdingen, possibly Gerlach I or Gerlach II, to secure the surrounding judicial districts, the Büdingen forest, and the trade routes that passed through the region. This construction possibly occurred during the period of the Staufer final battle in the Wetterau, preceding the death of Konrad IV. The earlier names 'Raneberg' and 'Roneberg' likely derive from the Old High German word Rone, which refers to a fallen tree, suggesting the presence of an even older fortified complex with palisades. Notably, the oldest surviving components of the present-day core castle date to the second quarter of the 14th century.
Numerous indications suggest that Ronneburg Castle originally served as a territorial fortress for the Archbishopric of Mainz. The castle's location within the Mainzian court of Langendiebach allowed it to safeguard this territory, as well as the adjacent forested regions under Electoral-Mainzian jurisdiction along the lower Kinzig River. Notably, other Mainzian possessions, such as Gelnhausen (held until 1170) and Bulau (held until 1277), further underlined the importance of Ronneburg's role. After the extinction of the Büdingen family, who previously held the castle (before 1247), Ronneburg Castle did not immediately pass to their primary heirs, the Counts of Ysenburg. Instead, it was briefly under the ownership of the von Hohenlohe family when first mentioned. It was subsequently sold to the Archbishopric of Mainz in 1313 by Gottfried III of Hohenlohe-Brauneck.
The castle was pledged to the Knights of Rockenberg in 1327, leading to significant expansions. Between 1339 and 1356, it once again fell under the administration of the Archbishopric. In 1356, Ronneburg Castle was pledged to the Lords of Cronberg, specifically Hartmut VI and Frank VIII of Cronberg. They had provided considerable financial assistance to Archbishop Gerlach of Nassau and, in return, received the castle as collateral for 18,000 small gold florins. The Cronbergs retained ownership of Ronneburg until 1407, during which time they carried out further enhancements, including the construction of the chapel bay window in the hall building. Starting in 1424, the castle entered another period of pledging, this time under the control of the Counts of Hanau.