719 Years of History
Laibach Castle was first recorded in 1307 — in the family's hands since 1777, today a living working estate.
Getting Here
Through the Old Gate
The gravel track to the estate runs between tall hedges and wildflower verges — beneath an ivy-clad archway from the old castle wall — until, between centuries-old trees, the first towers of Laibach Castle come into view.
The Coat-of-Arms Gate
The ivy-covered archway itself is part of the castle's old curtain wall — probably dating from the 17th century, when the outer fortifications were renewed alongside the great four-wing rebuilding of 1615–1629. Above the gate, for generations, the coat of arms of the Eben von Racknitz family has kept watch — per pale and per fess, with a golden griffin, the silver donkey from the Racknitz ancestral arms, and three black piles on gold. Passing through here means symbolically crossing 700 years of history: from the medieval ramparts to today's organic farm.
The track is part of the Kocher-Jagst cycle route — many guests of the holiday apartment arrive here by bike, right at this spot.
Why Gut Laibach
Four Good Reasons
History, animal welfare, organic diversity and a home away from home — all in one place in the Jagst Valley.
EDEKA Bauernschätze
Since 2023, our turkeys have been raised to the ITW3 standard, exclusively for the Bauernschätze programme of EDEKA Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen.
Organic & Local
Eben von Racknitz Biohof GbR has been growing vegetables and specialty crops organically since the late 1960s.
A Stay in the Tower
Two holiday apartments in historic defence towers — directly on the Kocher-Jagst cycle route.
The Estate
Welcome
Our farm lies in Hohenlohe, in the beautiful Jagst Valley, above Dörzbach. On 60 hectares we grow arable crops and raise turkeys to the ITW3 standard — committed to producing food of the highest quality and marketing it regionally.
G·E·R
The Owner
Like Father, Like Son
Giso Eben von Racknitz grew up on the family farm and went on to complete a degree after finishing school. At the age of 27 he took over the family business from his father — and, just as innovative as his father before him, has since developed existing projects further and brought new ideas to life. A father of four, he now runs the estate together with his wife and, depending on the season, up to 25 staff.
I·E·R
Tradition & Experience
The Pioneer
Back in the late 1960s, Ingo Eben von Racknitz converted the arable and vegetable farming to organic methods — around the same time, the first turkeys arrived on the estate, making it one of the first turkey-farming operations in southern Germany. Today, more than 40 years later, this experience is the foundation on which the third generation continues to build.
- Since the end of the war
- The farm has been run by the third generation — one of the first turkey-farming operations in southern Germany.
- Since 2015
- Four barns under the BTS programme: outdoor-climate areas, raised perches, pecking stones and outdoor access.
- 40+ years
- Experience in organic arable and vegetable farming, grown since the late 1960s.
Painted Façade & Draw-Well
The window surrounds in the courtyard are decorated with elaborate façade paintings featuring scrollwork, shell motifs and heraldic cartouches — probably dating from the late 18th or early 19th century, and restored by Ingo Eben von Racknitz in the 1980s. In front stands an old sandstone draw-well, now a trellis for climbing roses — a small relic of self-sufficiency from earlier centuries.
One of the painted shields shows a motif from the Eben von Racknitz coat of arms — a leaping griffin on gold, combined with the silver donkey of the Racknitz ancestral arms and three black piles. Documented above a gateway on the estate, ever since the family took over the castle in 1777.
Our Farming
Three Pillars, One Estate
Turkey farming and organic produce — grown from tradition, run with an eye on tomorrow.
Turkey Farming
Four barns, run since 2015 under the BTS programme with outdoor-climate areas, raised perches, pecking stones and outdoor access. Since 2023, our turkeys have been raised to the ITW3 standard exclusively for the Bauernschätze programme of EDEKA Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen — with lower stocking densities and an additional 20 % covered outdoor run.
Biohof GbR
Our land has been farmed organically for over 40 years. At the moment we mainly grow eating pumpkins and beetroot for the food retail trade. Alongside the classic Hokkaido, our range includes Butternut, Spaghetti, Gorgonzola, Turban and Halloween pumpkins — we're always on the lookout for new ideas to grow.
Turkey Farming Through the Years
- Since the 1960s
- Ingo Eben von Racknitz brings the first turkeys to the farm — one of the first turkey-fattening operations in southern Germany.
- Since 2015
- Four barns under the BTS programme: outdoor-climate areas, raised perches, pecking stones, outdoor access.
- Since 2023
- ITW3, exclusively for the Bauernschätze programme of EDEKA Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen — 20 % additional covered outdoor run.
History
719 Years of Castle, 249 Years of Family
Laibach Castle looks back on an eventful history — from a knight's castle high above the Jagst Valley to today's working estate.
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1307
First Recorded Mention
Laibach Castle is first recorded — held by the Lords of Aschhausen, perched high above the Jagst Valley.
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1422
Fief of the Berlichingens
The castle and hamlet of Laibach pass to the von Berlichingen family as a Limpurg fief.
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1471
Destroyed as a „Robber Knights' Den“
Count Palatine Friedrich captures and destroys the castle — from then on it is cited as an example of a hideout for so-called "robber knights".
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1615–
1629Rebuilt in Renaissance Style
Under Erhard von Muggenthal, the three-storey four-wing complex is built — including a castle chapel with a pulpit from 1629.
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1777
The Eben von Racknitz Family
Via Brandenburg, the castle passes into the hands of the Barons von Racknitz — and remains there to this day.
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c. 1780
An Inscription in Stone
A weathered sandstone tablet on the façade bears an inscription with the still-legible traces „VIVAT“ and a date from the 1780s — likely from the early years of the Eben von Racknitz family at Laibach Castle.
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1987–
1988Restoration
The castle undergoes extensive restoration; the historic façade paintings are later reinstated.
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2023
EDEKA Bauernschätze
Turkey farming switches to the ITW3 standard — exclusively for the Bauernschätze programme of EDEKA Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen, with lower stocking densities and a 20 % additional covered outdoor run.
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Today
Third Generation
Giso Eben von Racknitz runs the farm — turkey rearing and organic produce, grown from centuries-old roots.
Did You Know?
Small Treasures from Farm and History
A few notes from over 700 years of castle history, from the barn and from the field.
№ 01
Robber Knights' Den
In 1471, Count Palatine Friedrich had Laibach Castle captured — as a hideout for so-called "robber knights", it became a target for destruction.
№ 02
249 Years in the Family
Laibach Castle has belonged to the Eben von Racknitz family since 1777 — the farm itself has been run by the third generation since the end of the war.
№ 03
Pulpit from 1629
The castle chapel, with its flat groin vault, has a pulpit dating from 1629 — almost 400 years old.
№ 04
297 Metres of View
At 297 m above sea level, the castle sits high above the valley — with a wide view over the Jagst Valley.
№ 05
All-Round Vision
Because their eyes sit on the sides of their heads, turkeys can see almost all the way around — though hardly anything directly in front of their beak.
№ 06
Giants in the Park
The giant sequoias in the park are among the largest tree species on Earth — in their native California they grow over 80 metres tall and live for several thousand years.
№ 07
10,000 Years of Pumpkins
Pumpkins are among the world's oldest cultivated plants — domesticated around 10,000 years ago in Central America, long before maize and beans.
№ 08
From Defence Tower to Holiday Retreat
Two former defence towers of the castle are now holiday apartments — right on the Kocher-Jagst cycle route.
№ 09
20 % Covered Outdoor Run
Since 2023, we have offered our turkeys an additional 20 % covered outdoor run alongside the barn space — part of the Bauernschätze programme of EDEKA Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen.
Holiday Apartment
A Stay in the Tower
Right in the castle park, directly on the Kocher-Jagst cycle route, two former defence towers of the castle invite you to stay a while — a home away from home with centuries-old walls, your own garden and a view over the Jagst Valley.
History of the Tower
The round defence tower is part of Laibach Castle's historic fortifications. Its exact construction date is not documented — it was most likely built, like much of today's complex, during the Renaissance four-wing rebuilding of 1615 to 1629, possibly incorporating older wall sections from the 15th century. Its thick sandstone walls have since weathered wind, rain and more than 400 years of castle history.
Atmosphere
It's exactly these old, thick walls that give the tower its special sound: footsteps on the spiral staircase, a quiet conversation in the gallery — everything takes on a soft, warm resonance found only within centuries-old stone. Outside, climbing roses creep up the wall, tall sequoias and poplars rustle in the wind, and most of the time it's only birdsong that breaks the silence. Many guests say the same thing: you arrive here — and find you don't want to leave.
The View
From the small tower windows and your own patch of garden, the view stretches across the castle park and the orchard meadows down into the Jagst Valley. At 297 m above sea level, Laibach Castle sits high above the valley — often in morning mist that slowly clears to reveal the wooded slopes of the Hohenlohe plain.
Garden & Roses
The holiday apartment comes with its own patch of garden within the castle park — a quiet retreat beneath mature trees. Climbing roses scale the centuries-old sandstone walls around the tower, blooming in full in summer and lending the courtyard its scent. Sit outside with your coffee in the morning, and you'll mostly hear only birdsong and the rustle of the sequoias.
Inside
- Living/dining area with sleeping gallery
- Fully equipped kitchen: dishwasher, oven, fridge-freezer
- Your own patch of garden within the castle park
- Two parking spaces right by the steps up to the tower
- Towels, bed linen, hairdryer, shower gel & shampoo included
Why Stay Here
- A stay with history — inside the castle's own defence tower
- Right on the Kocher-Jagst cycle route
- Self-catering thanks to a full kitchen
- Right in the middle of farm life — turkeys, fields, orchard meadows
- Sweeping views over the Jagst Valley from 297 m up
Impressions
Rates
- 1 person
- €60/night
- 2 people
- €65/night
- Final cleaning
- €65
- Min. stay
- 2 nights
Due to the building's layout, the towers are only suitable for small children to a limited extent. For availability and bookings, please contact us by phone.
Contact
Laibach Castle
Gutsverwaltung Laibach — Eben von Racknitz Biohof GbR. Have a question about our turkeys, the organic farm or the holiday apartment in the tower? Call us, write using the form below — or find us on the map.