Burgruine Botenlauben

Bad Kissingen, Germany, Germany

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Burgruine Botenlauben is a medieval castle ruin located in the district of Reiterswiesen in Bad Kissingen, Bavaria, Germany. It was likely built around 1180 and is named after Otto von Botenlauben, a notable minnesinger and crusader who lived there with his wife, Beatrix de Courtenay, during the early 13th century.

The castle was an administrative center under the Bishopric of Würzburg from 1234 and saw a number of feudal tenants over the centuries. It suffered damage during the German Peasants' War in 1525 after peasants attacked the castle, reportedly accessing it through treachery. Although forced to rebuild the castle afterward, it was destroyed for the last time in the mid-16th century during the Margravial War and gradually fell into ruin.

Its remains now include the foundations of residential buildings and two round towers, with the site open to visitors free of charge. The ruins offer panoramic views of Bad Kissingen and are a popular historical attraction reflecting a complex feudal history and regional conflicts. Legend surrounds the castle, including tales of a traitorous cook whose ghost is said to haunt the site.