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Burgruine Birkenstein, Leinefelde-Worbis

Burgruine Birkenstein

Leinefelde-Worbis

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where
Leinefelde-Worbis

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Burgruine Birkenstein stands in Leinefelde-Worbis (Landkreis Eichsfeld), in Thuringia, Germany. No visits are on record for this building.

The Burgruine Birkenstein refers to the remains of two medieval hilltop fortifications on the Dün ridge, not far from the village of Birkungen. First documented in 1256 through a donation to Reifenstein Abbey, it later belonged to the counts of Gleichenstein before being sold to the Archbishopric of Mainz towards the end of the 13th century. At the main site, known as Birkenstein I, a ditch and some overgrown wall remains can still be traced, while a smaller second enclosure, Birkenstein II, was only identified in the 1980s. Today the location is essentially an archaeological site, with no standing structures left.

What to know

  • No standing walls remain, only a ditch and some faint foundation traces can be seen on site.
  • The location lies in woodland on the Dün ridge, about one kilometre from the village of Birkungen, reached on foot along a sloping path.
  • There are no opening hours or fees, as this is an open-air archaeological site with free access.
  • The visit suits hikers or those interested in archaeology rather than visitors expecting standing architecture.
  • A local legend, that of the Kellerjungfrau, is tied to the place and is still told in the nearby village.

Where this château is

Leinefelde-Worbis · Landkreis Eichsfeld · Thüringen

Map of the area around Burgruine Birkenstein

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Birkungen, 37355 Leinefelde-Worbis

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

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Heritage status
Protection status unknown

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

In pictures

Frequently asked

Are there still walls to see at the Burgruine Birkenstein?
No, only the outline of a ditch and some overgrown foundation remains can be found.
Is there an entrance fee for the Burgruine Birkenstein?
No fees or opening hours apply, as it is a freely accessible archaeological site.
Where exactly is the Burgruine Birkenstein located?
It lies on the Dün ridge, about one kilometre south of the village of Birkungen, in the Landkreis Eichsfeld in Thuringia.
How old is the Burgruine Birkenstein?
It is first documented in 1256, though its size suggests the site may date back as far as the 9th or 10th century.

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Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Land's heritage lists.

Within an hour’s drive

The most visited in this department — Landkreis Eichsfeld