Hornburg Castle

Hornburg Castle, simultaneously the town's landmark, rises dominantly above the settlement. It was a border castle of the Bishopric of Halberstadt. It is believed that Suitger, son of Count Konrad of Marsleben and Horneburg (Morsleben and Hornburg), was born there in 1005. Suitger became Pope Clement II in 1046 as Bishop of Bamberg. Hornburg was first destroyed in 1113, and again by Henry the Lion in 1179. From here, Barbarossa marched into battle against Henry the Lion in 1181. In 1430, the castle was destroyed for a third time. In the 15th century, the castle was expanded into a fortress and had seven corner towers, a keep, and three ring walls. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was attacked by imperial and Swedish troops. In 1626, Tilly's mercenaries stormed the castle, followed by the Swedes in 1630. In 1632, they handed the castle over to the imperial cavalry general Gottfried Heinrich zu Pappenheim. In 1645, it was destroyed by the Swedish general Königsmarck and subsequently served as a quarry.