It may have been first built in the 11th century to control trade along the Via Regia (Royal Road), which connected the Rhineland with Silesia.
The castle was badly damaged in the mid-13th century by "inimicos ecclesie" (enemies of the Church), thought to be a reference to excommunicated nobles behind a series of attacks on Church property in the area.
Permission to rebuild was granted to the abbot of nearby Fulda Abbey in 1252 by William of Holland, the papal candidate to be King of the Romans (ie uncrowned Holy Roman Emperor, often rendered as King of the Germans).
The castle later fell into disrepair and was effectively made useless as a defensive stronghold during the Knights' Revolt of 1522-3.
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| Not much more than the keep remains - note how high the entrance was |
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| Looking from the top of the keep over Bad Soden old town |
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| Information boards include a mention of the popularity of chess |
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| An idea of how Stolzenberg Castle looked in its heyday |
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