Burg Wäscherschloss
Small 13th-century Hohenstaufen castle near Wäschenbeuren with a pentagonal courtyard, a half-timbered great hall and views of the Hohenstaufen mountain.
About the museum
Burg Wäscherschloss was built between about 1220 and 1250 as an outlying fortification protecting the Hohenstaufen dynasty's ancestral castle on the Hohenstaufen mountain. It is thought to have been built by an imperial ministerial from the Staufer circle; the name goes back to Konrad "the Wascher", who owned the castle from 1271. It first appears in a document in 1330 as "Weschenburg".
After the end of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, the castle changed hands several times: the Lords of Rechberg held it for a time, in the 15th century it passed to Austria, and only in 1806 to the Kingdom of Württemberg, which used it for farming. Architecturally, it is defined by the curtain wall nearly ten meters (33 ft) high with Staufer-era rusticated ashlar, the windowless shield wall on the west side, and the palas (great hall), whose lower half-timbered story dates from 1484; the upper story and roof were renewed in 1699. The row of windows in the main room, uncovered again in 1977, shows the house's former standing.
In the 19th century the castle was rediscovered as a place of remembrance of the Staufer and became a favorite motif for painters. In 1960 a private friends' association set up a museum here. After renovation, the castle reopened in 2011 and is now managed by Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg, which offers guided tours, special tours and medieval programs for children.
Highlights
- Staufer-era curtain wall with rusticated ashlar and a pentagonal courtyard
- Half-timbered great hall with a main room from 1484
- Large hall on the upper floor with views of the Hohenstaufen
- Medieval programs and children's birthday parties
- Close to Kloster Lorch and the Hohenstaufen
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Children aged 6 and over, school and university students up to age 28, people in voluntary service or voluntary military service, people with a disability rating of 50 or more (proof required in each case) |
| Children & teens | €2Reduced price from age 6; no price is listed for younger children. Visitors aged 15 and over count as adults unless they qualify for a reduction. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €2Reduced with a disability rating of 50 or more, with proof; the price page does not mention any arrangement for companions. |
| Students & apprentices | €2School and university students up to age 28. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €3.60 per personFrom 20 people. |
| Families | €10The Landesfamilienpass (Baden-Württemberg family pass) is accepted. |
| Standard guided tour incl. admission | €7Reduced €3.50, families €17.50 |
| Special guided tour | €9Reduced €4.50, families €22.50, unless stated otherwise in the program |
Cash only, no card payment. Prices may differ during special exhibitions. Free admission with the AlbCard.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Not accessible due to the structure of the building.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €10 · The Landesfamilienpass (Baden-Württemberg family pass) is accepted. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Special tours for children and families according to the event calendar. Children's birthday parties for 5- to 10-year-olds (max. 10 children plus 2 adults, about 2 hrs. with a tour and leather-pouch crafting), May to October, booking through the Touristik-Büro Kloster Lorch. Due to its structure, the castle is not accessible.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Wäscherhof
Bus 932 from Göppingen or Schwäbisch Gmünd to the Wäscherhof stop; from Lorch, bus 931 to Wäschenbeuren Friedhof
By car
Free parking
Around 100 free car parking spaces within walking distance, plus 10 free spaces for tour buses and motorhomes.
Amenities & dining
Dogs are prohibited inside the rooms; dogs must be leashed in the garden.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private souvenir photos allowed on a small scale; no tripods or selfie sticks indoors, and drones are prohibited throughout the castle grounds. |
| Good to know | Inquiries about tours and events via the hotline of Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg; school program "Der Traum des Pagen Konrad" (The Dream of the Page Konrad) (grades 1–4, about 2 hrs.) is booked through the Touristik-Büro Kloster Lorch. Warm clothing is recommended in cool weather. |
