Westerburg Castle

The exact origins of Westerburg Castle are unknown, but it is believed to have been built around 780 during the Saxon Wars as a Frankish outpost under Charlemagne. Originally, a large ring wall with a moat was located on this site. In the 11th century, an oval round castle with a round keep was integrated into it. The first documented mention occurred in 1052, when Emperor Henry III handed over the area to the Bishop of Halberstadt. In 1180, the Counts of Regenstein received the castle as a fief and developed it into one of their fortresses. Towards the end of the 13th century, it was converted into a residential complex, with the ring wall serving as the outer wall of the houses. In the late 16th century, witch burnings took place at the castle.