Old Castle (Reifenstein)
| Old castle | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alternative name (s): | Burghagen | |
| Creation time : | Medieval | |
| Castle type : | Höhenburg, spur location | |
| Conservation status: | Castle stable, wall and moat remains | |
| Place: | Reifenstein | |
| Geographical location | 51 ° 20 '46.8 " N , 10 ° 22' 16.3" E | |
| Height: | 461.2 m above sea level NHN | |
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The Old Castle , also Burghagen called, is a Outbound medieval Spur castle in Reifenstein in the municipality Niederorschel in the district Eichsfeld in Thuringia .
location
The castle complex is located about two kilometers southwest of Kleinbartloff on the spur-like foothills of the thin plateau of the same name immediately above the Reifenstein monastery at a maximum height of 461.2 m above sea level. NHN . The narrow mountain ridge falls into the valley on three sides (to the southwest, west and northeast) with a steep layer of shell limestone . The forest village is still called "Alte Burg" or "Burghagen" today.
history
There are hardly any historical sources and only a few archaeological evidence of the history of the castle complex near Reifenstein, and even a castle name has not survived. The following castles are known in chronological order above the monastery Reifenstein:
Wallburg
In the early Iron Age (8th – 5th centuries BC) there was a hill fort on the hilltop. It certainly served as a refuge, but was probably also used for residential purposes. From prehistoric times, pottery shards, weapon parts and rings were found in the 19th century, but these can no longer be found and assessed today. The entire mountain spur is separated from the ridge at the narrowest point by ramparts and moats.
Old castle
There is no direct documentary evidence of this castle complex, only in 1162 and 1209 is the Burghagen mentioned in connection with the monastery Reifenstein, founded in 1162, and was then permanently owned by the monastery. Count Ernst (II) of Tonna is the 1162 newly established Reifenstein Abbey silvam que vocator Mittelberg et aliam adiacenten Burghagen ... .
On the remains of the old ramparts was in 9./11. Century a smaller medieval castle (round castle) built. It was probably built by a noble resident in the valley who owned a farm in the village of Albolderode . This settlement thus belonged to the castle district and was mentioned as early as 961. The court of the nobleman is mentioned in a document in 1123 as curtis in villa on the site of the later monastery. The medieval spur castle was protected by ramparts and ditches and separated into an outer and main castle. With an area of around 300 x 170 meters, it is a relatively large castle area. The Burghagen was an enclosed forest to protect the castle complex, which is still known today as a forest place. The name of the castle itself is not known.
When this castle was abandoned or destroyed is not exactly known, at least before the monastery was founded, probably as early as the end of the 11th century. Various ramparts and ditches are still preserved on the entire mountain plateau, as well as on the not so steep western and northeastern mountain slopes. Remnants of buildings or cellars are no longer available. Access to the site is via steeper paths from the valley up to the ridge.
Small old castle
Not far from the Old Castle there was another castle complex on the Dün, the Kleine Alteburg (or Reifenstein Castle). Due to the small number of findings, it was also initially doubted; more recent ceramic finds in 1971 refer to a castle in the 12th century. The castle area has been severely changed due to weathering and requires further investigation. The castle (Reifenstein?) Could already have existed when the monastery was founded and may have served as the residence of the Counts of Gleichen . The counts donated the neighboring Mittelberg, part of the Sonder and the Burghagen to the monastery as accessories. The place in the valley was now called villa riphenstein . In armed conflicts around the year 1200 between King Philip of Swabia and the anti-king Otto IV, numerous monasteries and places in Thuringia were destroyed. This castle could also have been affected because traces of fire were found, the nearby monastery was demonstrably affected. It was not rebuilt by the Counts of Gleichen, and Birkenstein Castle was probably built as a replacement .
literature
- Paul Grimm: The Burghagen near Reifenstein. On the function of prehistoric fortifications. In: Ausgrabungen und Funde Vol. 15 (1970), pp. 285-291
- Rolf Aulepp: The castles and old streets of the Dün. Eichsfelder Heimathefte, issue 1/1985 pp. 65–74 and issue 2/1985, pp. 144–151
- Michael Köhler: Thuringian castles and fortified prehistoric and early historical living spaces. Jenzig-Verlag Köhler, Jena 2003
Individual evidence
- ↑ Map services of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation ( information )
- ↑ Alfred Götze: The prehistoric and early historical antiquities of Thuringia. Verlag Kabitsch Würzburg 1909, p. 195
- ↑ Levin von Wintzingeroda-Knorr : Die Wüstungen des Eichsfeldes: Directory of the desert areas, prehistoric ramparts, mines, courts of law and waiting areas within the districts of Duderstadt, Heiligenstadt, Mühlhausen and Worbis. Göttingen (O. Hendel) 1903, page 13
- ↑ Levin von Wintzingeroda-Knorr : Die Wüstungen des Eichsfeldes: Directory of the desert areas, prehistoric ramparts, mines, courts of law and waiting areas within the districts of Duderstadt, Heiligenstadt, Mühlhausen and Worbis. Göttingen (O. Hendel) 1903, page 13
- ^ Paul Grimm and Wolfgang Timpel: The prehistoric and early historical fortifications of the Worbis district. In: Eichsfelder Heimathefte special edition, Worbis 1966, page 17
- ↑ Alfred Götze: The prehistoric and early historical antiquities of Thuringia. Verlag Kabitsch Würzburg 1909, p. 196
- ↑ Levin von Wintzingeroda-Knorr : Die Wüstungen des Eichsfeldes: Directory of the desert areas, prehistoric ramparts, mines, courts of law and waiting areas within the districts of Duderstadt, Heiligenstadt, Mühlhausen and Worbis. Göttingen (O. Hendel) 1903, page 13: there are fissured rock crevices, but possibly just a former quarry
- ↑ Rolf Aulepp: The castles and old streets of the Dün. Eichsfelder Heimathefte, issue 1/1985 page 74 and issue 2/1985 pages 144–145
Web links
- Entry on Alte Burg in the private database "Alle Burgen".