Lauenburg Castle
Encyclopedia
The Lauenburg is a ruined medieval castle in the East Harz
in central Germany situated on an elevation southwest of the village of Stecklenberg
(in the borough of Thale
) in Harz district in the state of Saxony-Anhalt
in the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
The castle
was built in the High Middle Ages
.
The ruins of the Lauenburg stand on a foothill of the Ramberg massif above the village of Stecklenberg. It was built by Henry IV
and first mentioned in the records in 1164. The construction of the two-part castle with its inner and outer wards
(Vorburg and Hauptburg) probably took up to ten years. The two halves of the castle are separated by a massive defensive ditch (Halsgraben), hewn out of the rock. The purpose of this impressive fortification
with a total length of more than 350 metres was the protection of Quedlinburg
and the nearby military roads
. In 1180 the Lauenburg was captured by Frederick I (Barbarossa)
during a series of warlike conflicts. Later robber baron
s resided in the castle for periods of time, until it was destroyed in the 14th century.
Today the main castle is badly run-down. Only a few remnants of the towers and the outer walls are still left. The only structure in the entire fortification that has withstood the ravages of time and history relatively well is the keep
of the outer ward. Its ruins can be seen from a long way off.
The Lauenburg has a checkpoint (no. 187) in the network of hiking trails that form the Harzer Wandernadel
. It is on the path by the entrance to the inn that is situated between the two parts of the castle.
. Beyond the ruins, the path continues uphill to the Lauenburg.
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...
in central Germany situated on an elevation southwest of the village of Stecklenberg
Stecklenberg
Stecklenberg is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 23 November 2009, it is part of the town Thale....
(in the borough of Thale
Thale
Thale is a town in the Harz district in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Bode, approximately 8 km west of Quedlinburg. It is the terminus of the Magdeburg–Thale railway.- History :...
) in Harz district in the 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...
in the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
The castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was built in the High Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history around the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries . The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention end around 1500....
.
The ruins of the Lauenburg stand on a foothill of the Ramberg massif above the village of Stecklenberg. It was built by Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
and first mentioned in the records in 1164. The construction of the two-part castle with its inner and outer wards
Ward (fortification)
In fortifications, a bailey or ward refers to a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a Motte-and-bailey. Castles can have more than one ward. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology...
(Vorburg and Hauptburg) probably took up to ten years. The two halves of the castle are separated by a massive defensive ditch (Halsgraben), hewn out of the rock. The purpose of this impressive fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
with a total length of more than 350 metres was the protection of Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
and the nearby military roads
Heerstraße
Heerstraße is German for:*a military road that was built in order to enable the rapid movement of armies overland.*specific roads built for this purpose including the:** Aachen-Frankfurter Heerstraße** Bernauer Heerstraße** Georgische Heerstraße...
. In 1180 the Lauenburg was captured by Frederick I (Barbarossa)
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
during a series of warlike conflicts. Later robber baron
Robber baron
A robber baron or robber knight was an unscrupulous and despotic nobility of the medieval period in Europe, for example, Berlichingen. It has slightly different meanings in different countries. In modern US parlance, the term is also used to describe unscrupulous industrialists...
s resided in the castle for periods of time, until it was destroyed in the 14th century.
Today the main castle is badly run-down. Only a few remnants of the towers and the outer walls are still left. The only structure in the entire fortification that has withstood the ravages of time and history relatively well is 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...
of the outer ward. Its ruins can be seen from a long way off.
The Lauenburg has a checkpoint (no. 187) in the network of hiking trails that form the Harzer Wandernadel
Harzer 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...
. It is on the path by the entrance to the inn that is situated between the two parts of the castle.
Access
The castle may accessed on a footpath that runs from behind the church in Stecklenberg; there is a small car park in front of the church. The path climbs steeply past a children's play park up to the ruined castle of StecklenburgStecklenburg
The Stecklenburg is a ruined medieval castle in the East Harz in Germany, located on a small rise only a few hundred metres away from the village of Stecklenberg in the district of Harz in Saxony-Anhalt....
. Beyond the ruins, the path continues uphill to the Lauenburg.