How old is Burg Greifenstein?

Its oldest remains date back to the 12th century, though the exact origin of the first fortification is uncertain.

Can you visit the interior of Burg Greifenstein like a furnished castle?

No, it is a ruin, with only walls, towers and foundations still standing.

Where is Burg Greifenstein located?

It stands above Bad Blankenburg, in the Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia.

Why did the name of the site change over time?

The site was originally called Blankenburg, with the name Greifenstein only appearing in the mid-17th century.

Burg Greifenstein

Greifenstein Castle

Bad Blankenburg

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Where: Bad Blankenburg

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Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Oppurg CastleAccommodation on site28 km

Burg Greifenstein stands in Bad Blankenburg (Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt), in Thuringia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Recorded dating: 12th century. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Burg Greifenstein rises above Bad Blankenburg on a rocky spur, set within a nature reserve that bears its name. Covering roughly 25,000 square metres, this medieval ruin ranks among the largest in Germany, its remains revealing two distinct fortified areas, an older section to the west and a later eastern extension. Visitors can still make out the remnants of a round tower, a chapel and several residential buildings, along with defensive works including ditches, bastions and a double gate.

What to know

The site sits on high ground, on the Greifenstein hill above Bad Blankenburg, so reaching it involves a walk uphill.
This is an open-air ruin with no confirmed opening hours or admission fees, best explored outdoors.
The area lies within a nature reserve, so visitors are encouraged to keep to marked paths.
The site is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Thuringia.

Where this château is

Bad Blankenburg · Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt · Thüringen

Map of the area around Burg Greifenstein

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

M7W9+H5, Greifensteinstraße 3, 07422 Bad Blankenburg

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Thüringen
Period of construction: 12th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

How old is Burg Greifenstein?: Its oldest remains date back to the 12th century, though the exact origin of the first fortification is uncertain.
Can you visit the interior of Burg Greifenstein like a furnished castle?: No, it is a ruin, with only walls, towers and foundations still standing.
Where is Burg Greifenstein located?: It stands above Bad Blankenburg, in the Landkreis Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia.
Why did the name of the site change over time?: The site was originally called Blankenburg, with the name Greifenstein only appearing in the mid-17th century.