Raspenburg Castle

The origins of the Raspenburg date back to shortly after 1085, when Ludwig the Springer acquired the surrounding area through marriage and had castles built there to consolidate his power in the Saale-Unstrut region. The complex served as a residence for Ludowingians such as Heinrich Raspe III and later Heinrich Raspe IV. It was part of a network of station castles that served the administration and defense of the Landgraviate of Thuringia. After the death of Heinrich Raspe IV in the Thuringian-Hessian War of Succession, the Counts of Rabenswalde initially took over the rule, followed by the Wettins from 1288. In the course of conflicts over the Landgraviate, the castle changed hands several times and degenerated into a robber baron's nest.