Salzwedel Castle

Salzwedel Castle is the ruin of a lowland castle in the castle garden on the northern edge of the old town of the Hanseatic city of Salzwedel in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt.

The castle was probably built in the 9th century to protect a trade route between Magdeburg and the salt town of Lüneburg at a crossing of the Jeetze (ford). In 1112, the castle was first mentioned as "Saltwidele" during the siege by Emperor Henry V. In 1134, with Albert the Bear, the castle came into Ascanian possession. Until the beginning of the 13th century, the bailiffs of Salzwedel resided in the castle as representatives of the margraves. In the 13th century, the still visible round keep was built, and in 1899, the castle was largely demolished by blasting.

The originally ring-shaped castle complex with a total diameter of about 220 meters was additionally protected within the city by moats and walls.

Today, remnants of the castle wall, the moat, and St. Anne's Chapel are preserved, as well as the still 24-meter-high round castle tower with an entrance at a height of twelve meters and a 3.60-meter-thick wall at the base of the tower. The tower formerly had a pointed roof.