Grasburg (Rottleberode)
Encyclopedia
The Grasburg is a prehistoric refuge castle
, in the form of a hillfort with a rampart and ditch system, near Rottleberode
in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt
.
between Stempeda
and Rottleberode in the South Harz
and is, according to legend, the family seat of the counts of Stolberg. There are various theories about the ancestry of the counts of Stolberg, none of which has been able to prevail.
In the 13th century a pilgrimage chapel was built in the castle grounds, in which an annual fair was celebrated up to the 15th century. Such a ceremony was held on St. Stephen's Day (3 August), for example, in 1497 on the Craßburg. Thereafter, the chapel fell into ruin; although several elements of it have survived.
Refuge castle
A refuge castle is a castle-like defensive location, usually surrounded by ramparts, that is not permanently occupied but acts as a temporary retreat for the local population when threatened by war or attack...
, in the form of a hillfort with a rampart and ditch system, near Rottleberode
Rottleberode
Rottleberode is a village and a former municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Südharz....
in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz in the German state of 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...
.
History
The Grasburg is located in the wooded area known as Alter StolbergAlter Stolberg
The Alter Stolberg is a wooded karst plateau, up to high, in the South Harz in Central Germany. It lies in the districts of Nordhausen in the state of Thuringia and Mansfeld-Südharz in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Geographical location :...
between Stempeda
Stempeda
Stempeda is a former municipality in the district of Nordhausen, in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 December 2007, it is part of the town Nordhausen....
and Rottleberode in the South Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
and is, according to legend, the family seat of the counts of Stolberg. There are various theories about the ancestry of the counts of Stolberg, none of which has been able to prevail.
In the 13th century a pilgrimage chapel was built in the castle grounds, in which an annual fair was celebrated up to the 15th century. Such a ceremony was held on St. Stephen's Day (3 August), for example, in 1497 on the Craßburg. Thereafter, the chapel fell into ruin; although several elements of it have survived.