Fautsburg (Vogtsberg)

Fautsburg was originally known as Vogtsberg, having its beginnings sometime in the late 1100s. It was first referred to in documents in 1276, then being the property of the Knights of Vogtesberg. By 1323, the property passed to the Lords of Wurttemberg, and in the 1560s it was enfeoffed to Johannes Brenz, a Protestant church reformer. Brenz was very active in Protestant activities in the 1550s and 60s, having support of some of the local authorities, but being opposed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It appears that after his death in 1570 the castle began a slow decline due to neglect.

The shield wall was 3 meters thick, while the tower, which was 7.15 x 6.7 meters, had 2 walls two meters thick. Its original height is unknown. The tower in its current form was restored in 1960-61, and in 2007 a helicopter was used to cap it with a roof, the later a crowing achievement of the "Friends of Fautsburg" organization which was founded in 2004 to restore the site.

These photos were taken in 2010.