Spetzgart Castle

Around the year 1200, the Lords of Spetzgart, a ministerial family of the Counts of Heiligenberg, built a hilltop castle on a spur of the natural terrace. Burchardus de Spehshart was named as owner in 1223. The property was passed to Jos und Hans von Göggingen around 1450, and then was acquired for 1400 guilders in 1481. In 1498, the castle was passed to Premonstratensian monastery of Obermarchtal and was converted into an economic and summer residence of the monastery shortly after. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was plundered, first by Swedish troops in 1634 and then by French troops in 1643. Around 1650, Abbot Konrad Kneer of Obermarchtal had the castle rebuilt. From 1747 to 1749, the castle was renovated in the baroque style. The stucco celings of the outwardly plain building come from this period. In 1842, the castle church was demolished. Konrad Vogt acquired the property in 1896 and established a sanatorium. At the beginning of the 20th century, the four-story west wing of the castle and its adjoining tower and stepped gable were built perpendicular to the old manor house. In 1928, Schule Schloss Salem acquired the building, and since then, further renovations and new constructions have followed.^[6][5]

The Spetzgart Castle campus of Schule Schloss Salem opened on May 3rd, 1929. Years 10PLUS, 11, and 12 live and study at Spetzgart Castle and the Härlen campus, which together form Salem International College.