What remains of Birkenfeld Castle?

The visible remains are the foundation walls of a rectangular tower, fragments of the enclosing wall, and traces of a lower bailey and ditches.

When was Birkenfeld Castle built?

Its construction is tentatively dated to the 12th century, though not with certainty.

Why was Birkenfeld Castle destroyed?

It was likely torn down in the early 14th century during the feud between Landgrave Frederick III of Thuringia and Duke Albert I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen.

Where is the Birkenfeld Castle Ruin located?

It lies in Oberharz am Brocken, in the Landkreis Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, near the village of Rübeland.

Birkenfeld Castle Ruin

Oberharz am Brocken

Visit

Hours to be confirmed

Where: Oberharz am Brocken

Hours and prices not verified at the source yet.

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Burgruine Birkenfeld stands in Oberharz am Brocken (Landkreis Harz), in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The Birkenfeld Castle Ruin sits at the tip of a limestone rock spur south of the Bode river, on the edge of the village of Rübeland. What remains today are the foundation walls of a rectangular residential tower, fragments of the enclosing wall, and traces of a lower bailey, a neck ditch and an outer ditch. The site is believed to be a small spur castle built in the 12th century to guard nearby iron forges and the edge of the Bodfeld forest, before being destroyed in the early 14th century.

What to know

The site consists only of foundation walls and ruined wall fragments, with no standing building.
Visiting means walking outdoors on a rocky spur, over uneven ground.
The ruin is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Germany.
No opening hours, fees or access details are available for this site.

Where this château is

Oberharz am Brocken · Landkreis Harz · Sachsen-Anhalt

Map of the area around Burgruine Birkenfeld

Loading the map…

This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Burgstraße 14, 38889 Oberharz am Brocken-Elbingerode

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

Get directions View on a map

4.2 / 5from 56 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Deutschland

In pictures

Frequently asked

What remains of Birkenfeld Castle?: The visible remains are the foundation walls of a rectangular tower, fragments of the enclosing wall, and traces of a lower bailey and ditches.
When was Birkenfeld Castle built?: Its construction is tentatively dated to the 12th century, though not with certainty.
Why was Birkenfeld Castle destroyed?: It was likely torn down in the early 14th century during the feud between Landgrave Frederick III of Thuringia and Duke Albert I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen.
Where is the Birkenfeld Castle Ruin located?: It lies in Oberharz am Brocken, in the Landkreis Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, near the village of Rübeland.