Hiltenburg Castle in the Upper Fils Valley stands on the strategically advantageous, 707-m-high conical mountain peak of the Schlossberg, overlooking Bad Ditzenbach. Up until the 16th century it was the seat of the Counts of Helfenstein. In 1516 it was destroyed by Duke Ulrich of Württemberg, who was passing through on his way from Blaubeuren to Stuttgart. A cannonball from the Hiltenburg happened to land in Ulrich's camp, and this caused the Duke, who was known for his extremely hot temper, to have his men burn down the castle. The extensive complex is at present undergoing renovation.
Two vaulted cellars have been excavated, and archaeological finds attest that the Hiltenburg site was already populated as far back as the Bronze Age (c. 1000 BC). From the observation platform of the Hiltenburg's tower hikers can enjoy magnificent views of the Upper Fils Valley.
References:The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.
Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.