Harrissen

Rietheim (Münsingen), The county of Reutlingen

The castle nowadays referred to as Harrissen serves as an example for how long a medieval castle could stay undiscovered, as it was only recognized as such 20 years ago. However, its history is unknown. It was probably owned by knightly servants of the Counts of Urach, who may have come from the local nobility of the nearby village of Rietheim since at least some connections are provable. There also are descriptions of the Oberamt Urach, which mention common land “on the castle.” Some archaeological finds can be used to narrow down the period during which the castle, which is nowadays called Harrissen after the surrounding area, but whose name is actually unknown, was inhabited. It was have been built around the middle of or shortly before the 13th century, was shortly inhabited and abandoned again after a few decades, but at the latest around the middle of the 14th century.