The castle ruins dating back to the beginning of the 13th century constitute the oldest landmark in Bad Kissingen.
Majestic ruins high above Bad Kissingen
In 1206, Otto II of Botenlauben is mentioned as the most noted and above all, the first documented lord of a castle. While traveling to Jerusalem, he met Beatrix de Courtenay Edessa, the daughter of a seneschal in Jerusalem, and married her. They lived in Botenlauben castle. In 1231, Otto and Beatrix founded a Cistercian cloister in the neighbouring town of Frauenroth and sold the castle to the Bishopric of Würzburg. The castle was destroyed in the Peasant’s War of 1525.
The legend of the castle ruins
Legend has it that a cook working at the castle was bribed to help the insurgents enter the castle. The signal for the right time to open the kitchen door was the sound of tapping on a cutting board. The peasants thus managed to pillage the castle and ultimately set fire to it. The cook was not rewarded with money as promised but was murdered instead. According to lore, his ghost still roams the ruins and you can hear him tapping on the cutting board.
Editorial tips on Botenlauben castle
Every other year, the Botenlauben Festival "Minnesong and Clashing Swords” takes place. The programme includes minnesong, open-air theatre, jugglery, knight tournaments, performances for children, knightly accolade, guilds market and medieval treats.