Hohenasperg

Hohenasperg, located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg near Stuttgart, Germany, of which it is administratively part, is an ancient fortress and prison overlooking the town of Asperg.

History

Hohenasperg originally belonged to the Counts of Calw, then to the Counts Palatine ("Pfalzgrafen") of Tübingen. From them it was acquired in 1308 by Württemberg. In 1535 the fortifications were extended and strengthened, and in 1635 the town was taken by the Imperial forces, who occupied it until 1649.

It was for a long time the state prison of the Duchy, later Kingdom, of Württemberg. Among the many who have been interned here are the notorious Jewish financier, Joseph Süß Oppenheimer (1692-1738) and the poet C. F. D. Schubart (1739-1791). The prison later became a civil prison for the detention of non-political prisoners and now also houses the central hospital of the prison service in Baden-Württemberg. In this capacity it held Peter Graf, father of the tennis-player Steffi Graf, in 1995.

References

*Schön, 1899. "Die Staatsgefangenen von Hohenasperg". Stuttgart.
*Biffart, 1858. "Geschichte der Württembergischen Feste Hohenasperg". Stuttgart.----