Gleichenstein Castle (Wachstedt)

In the 12th century, the Lords of Gleichen, originally also known as von Velseck, built the hilltop castle Velseck. This was destroyed in 1234. Between 1241 and 1246, a new castle was constructed to replace the old one, which was then named Gleichenstein Castle and first mentioned in a document in 1287. From 1294, the castle came into the possession of the Archbishops of Mainz. In 1632, it was captured by Swedish troops under Bernhard von Weimar, razed in 1643, and completely destroyed in 1648. A reconstruction took place in 1650. In 1802, the castle fell to Prussia, in 1816 to the Thuringian district of Mühlhausen, and in 1952 to the district of Worbis. A renovation of the complex occurred in 1967.