Rotenburg Castle (Ruin)

The first documented mention of the castle dates back to 1170. During this period, the first castellans, the “von Rodenberc” family, were also named. It is believed that the Ludowingians, Landgraves of Thuringia, had the castle built after 1122, following their acquisition of the Vogtei over Hersfeld Abbey. However, it is also conceivable that the Gisonians had already established initial fortifications at this site. After the death of the last Ludowingian in 1247 and the subsequent War of the Thuringian Succession, the Hessian possessions, including the Rodenberg Vogtei castle, fell to Henry I, the first Landgrave of Hesse. The castle subsequently served as a Hessian fief for various noble families.