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Hohentwiel Castle is a ruin of a former castle on the peak of the dead volcano Hohentwiel. It is located in the region called Hegau, which is close to the Lake of Constance. The mountain overtowers the city of Singen, which is located on the foot of the mountain, by 260 meters. With an overall area of nine hectares, Hohentwiel castle is the biggest castle ruin in Germany which is open for tourists. Since 1990, more than 80,000 tourists have visited the ruin every year; the maximum was reached in 2002 when 126,500 people visited Hohentwiel castle. The annual Hohentwiel-Festival takes place in the fortress area.
In its history, the castle was also a ducal seat during the Early Middle Ages and an ordinary castle during the High Middle Ages. The fortress on the Hohentwiel was first mentioned in 915. In the following times, the mountain was in possession of different noble families, such as the House of Zähringen. In the early 16th century, the Hohentwiel was more and more influenced by the House of Württemberg and became ducal seat once more. In the following centuries, the castle was expanded to the fortress of the state of Württemberg and was unsuccessfully besieged five times during the Thirty-Years' War. Later, the castle was used as state penitentiary, until it was slighted during the War of the Second Coalition in 1801. After its destruction, the ruin soon became of interest to tourism.