Domburg Castle

The Domburg is a medieval castle complex, whose ruins are located in the forest area of the Hakel, in the Harz district in the Heteborn area, an old imperial forest, which was called "saltus Hacul" in a document by Otto I in 941.

The complex, located 244.5 m above sea level, possibly dates back to a high medieval castle. The main castle had a diameter of 110 meters, the outer bailey had a diameter of 300 meters. A ten-meter-high defensive wall made of fieldstones still stands from the ruin, and the moat is also still present. The wall remains come from a nearly rectangular castellum built in the castle in the 13th century. In the northern wall there is a well-preserved narrow rectangular doorway, which probably led to the castle courtyard. The dimensions of the door are designed so that a single armored rider could ride into the courtyard without dismounting.

In 1310, the Domburg was first mentioned in a document as the property of Ludolph von Knesebeck. Allegedly, the family wreaked havoc from here as robber knights. At that time, the old military and trade road Leipzig - Lüneburg passed near the castle. The raids led to the castle complex being besieged and conquered in 1367 by troops of Bishop Albert III of Halberstadt as well as by troops from the cities of Aschersleben, Halberstadt and Quedlinburg. Afterwards, it was in the possession of the Bishops of Halberstadt. It frequently served as collateral in the following period. The castle was already abandoned in the 15th century.

Numerous legends from the Harz foreland tell about the Domburg and its supposedly immeasurable treasures.