Wildenburg Castle

Wildenburg castle was built between 1202 and 1235 and is one of the few hill castles in the Eifel that has not been destroyed by war or demolition. It was the centre of gravity of a territorial lordship that extended in the west as far as the present border with Belgium and in the east reached the gates of Steinfeld Abbey.

Originally the castle and the village of Wildenburg were separated by a ditch and drawbridge. Today the ditch has been filled in and the drawbridge has disappeared. The castle itself comprises a main and forecastle. The most striking parts of the castle are undoubtedly the towers: the tall tower over the hall, the tower above the gate in the forecastle and the large square tower. The identification of the above towers is difficult, because all the towers visible today are round. The large fortified tower at the southwest corner was probably square at first, but was then reinforced against cannon-fire and rounded off. The so-called tall tower over the hall is today called the Johannisburg. It was bought by Steinfeld Abbey in 1715 and the old inner Palas was converted into a church, in which many wooden sculptures from various centuries are on display. The former staircase-tower became a bell-tower, around which are the gatekeeper's house, the witches' tower and the half-timbered houses of the village.

References:

• Kreis Euskirchen

Address

Wildenburg 10, Hellenthal, Germany

Details

Founded: 1202-1235
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)