The castle owes its existence to Duke Christoph von Württemberg, who, after a successful spa treatment at the Göppinger Sauerbrunnenbad, ordered the construction of a princely castle in the town. Between 1556 and 1565, a representative four-winged complex in the Renaissance style was built. The sculptural masterpieces on two portals and the “Rebenstiege” (vine staircase) in the southwestern stair tower, which can be viewed as part of guided tours of the town, are well worth seeing. 71 of the 79 steps of the spiral staircase are overgrown with a vine carved in stone, in whose tendrils 13 animals are hidden. Today, the castle houses the district court.
The former castle gardens, which were converted into a park in 1960, adjoin the north wings of the castle. The Staufer fountain, designed by the Hohenstaufen artist Hermann Schwahn, commemorates the city´s great historical past. The three Staufer lions, carrying a water basin on their backs, refer to the coat of arms of the Staufer dukes of Swabia.







































