Freckleben Castle

The origins of the fortification at Freckleben date back, possibly to Carolingian times, as indicated by the extensive ramparts. The first documented mention of the place Frekenlevo can be found as early as 762. In 973, Freckleben came into the possession of Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg as part of an exchange of goods; Adalbert died there in 981. This suggests a noble residence. In the 12th century, the Margraves of Nordmark from the House of Stade were the owners. The round tower of the lower castle, reinforced by an outer shell around 1130, dates from this period. After the death of the last Count Udo of Freckleben in 1130, Emperor Lothar III confiscated the lordship and granted it as an imperial fief. In 1166, Archbishop Wichmann of Seeburg acquired the castle from Emperor Frederick I. Around 1200, another keep was built, whose rectangular base transitions into an octagon on the fourth upper floor and which served residential purposes.