Anhalt Castle
Encyclopedia
Anhalt Castle is a ruined medieval fortification near Harzgerode
, in Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
. It is sited on a hill, the Großer Hausberg, between Meisdorf and Mägdesprung
in the Selke
valley within the Harz mountains. It was built by Otto the Rich
from nearby Ballenstedt
around 1123. In 1140 the first castle was destroyed during a feud
between the Archbishop of Magdeburg and Margrave Conrad of Meissen
. The name of the state of Anhalt
goes back to this castle.
After 1147 the Ascanian margrave, Albert the Bear, had the castle rebuilt. The new castle was one of the mightiest fortifications in the Harz region and remained occupied until about 1300. The magnitude of the castle was comparable to that of the Wartburg
in Thuringia. The dry ditch with its outer rampart (Vorwall), which surrounded the castle, had a length of 543 metres. Architecturally it is interesting that this castle was built of brick
which was uncharacteristic of its time and the area.
From 1901 to 1907 excavations were carried out on the site of the ruins under the direction of the Brunswick surveyor, Brinckmann. Of the castle all that remains are a few wall sections from the chapel, living quarters and outbuildings, as well as the base of the keep
, about three metres high.
hiking system.
Harzgerode
Harzgerode is a town in the district of Harz in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.-Geography:Its localities include:*Harzgerode*Alexisbad*Dankerode*Güntersberge*Königerode*Mägdesprung*Neudorf*Schielo*Silberhütte*Siptenfelde*Straßberg...
, in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is sited on a hill, the Großer Hausberg, between Meisdorf and Mägdesprung
Mägdesprung
Mägdesprung is a village in the municipality of Harzgerode in the district of Harz. It nestles in the Harz Mountains at a height of 295 m.- History :There was a mill here below the Mägdetrappe until the Thirty Years' War...
in the Selke
Selke (river)
The Selke is a right tributary of the River Bode that rises in the Harz Mountains of central Germany and runs through the northeastern Harz Foreland in the state of Saxony-Anhalt...
valley within the Harz mountains. It was built by Otto the Rich
Otto, Count of Ballenstedt
Otto, Count of Ballenstedt, called Otto the Rich , was the first Ascanian prince to call himself count of Anhalt, and was also briefly named duke of Saxony...
from nearby Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt
Ballenstedt is a town in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the northern rim of the Harz mountain range, about 10 km southeast of Quedlinburg. The municipality includes the villages of Badeborn and Oppenrode...
around 1123. In 1140 the first castle was destroyed during a feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
between the Archbishop of Magdeburg and Margrave Conrad of Meissen
Conrad, Margrave of Meissen
Conrad the Great was the Margrave of Meissen from 1123 until his retirement in 1156. He was the son of Thimo, Count of Brehna, of the House of Wettin and Ida, daughter of Otto of Nordheim. He was also Count of Wettin, Brehna, and Camburg from before 1116.In 1123, he became Count of Eilenburg...
. The name of the state of Anhalt
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
goes back to this castle.
After 1147 the Ascanian margrave, Albert the Bear, had the castle rebuilt. The new castle was one of the mightiest fortifications in the Harz region and remained occupied until about 1300. The magnitude of the castle was comparable to that of the Wartburg
Wartburg
The Wartburg is a castle overlooking the town of Eisenach, Germany.Wartburg may also refer to:* Wartburgkreis, a district in Germany named after the Wartburg* Wartburg , former East German brand of automobiles, manufactured in Eisenach...
in Thuringia. The dry ditch with its outer rampart (Vorwall), which surrounded the castle, had a length of 543 metres. Architecturally it is interesting that this castle was built of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
which was uncharacteristic of its time and the area.
From 1901 to 1907 excavations were carried out on the site of the ruins under the direction of the Brunswick surveyor, Brinckmann. Of the castle all that remains are a few wall sections from the chapel, living quarters and outbuildings, as well as the base of the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
, about three metres high.
Hiking
Anhalt Castle (Burgruine Anhalt) is checkpoint no. 197 in the Harzer WandernadelHarzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
hiking system.
Sources
- Peter Feist: Burg Anhalt - Der Ort, der dem Land den Namen gab. Kai Homilius Verlag, Berlin 1997, ISBN 3-931121-34-8.
- Lutz Partenheimer: Albrecht der Bär. Gründer der Mark Brandenburg und des Fürstentums Anhalt. 2. Aufl. Köln/Weimar/Wien 2003, ISBN 3-412-16302-3, S. 78 f., 256 f.