Can you visit the Holsterburg today?

You can walk through the excavated archaeological site, but no building has survived above ground.

Why did the Holsterburg disappear for so long?

After its destruction in 1294 it was covered by an earth mound, leaving it forgotten until excavations began in 2010.

What makes the Holsterburg unusual?

Its octagonal ground plan, an extremely rare shape among medieval German castles, of which only three examples are known in the country.

Who built the Holsterburg?

It was built around 1150 by the brothers Hermann and Bernhard Berkule to control the surrounding farmland and the road between Warburg and Kassel.

Holsterburg

Warburg

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Where: Warburg

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Open within 20 km

Arolsen Castlefrom 26 April to 1 November (April to the 1st Sunday of November); November to March; winter holidays15 km
Schloss WilhelmsthalOpen to visitors19 km

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Holsterburg stands in Warburg (Kreis Höxter), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Recorded dating: 12th century. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The Holsterburg, also known as Burg Holthusen, was a lowland fortress built around 1150 southeast of Warburg, in North Rhine-Westphalia. Destroyed in 1294 and then buried under an earth mound, it vanished from view for centuries until archaeological excavations uncovered it between 2010 and 2017. Its distinctive feature is an octagonal ground plan, an extremely unusual shape for a medieval German stronghold. What can be seen today is therefore an excavated archaeological site rather than a standing castle.

What to know

No standing building remains: the site shows the excavated remains of an octagonal enclosure.
Archaeological excavations took place from 2010 to 2017 and are now completed.
The fortress was destroyed in 1294 and later covered by an earth mound, which explains its late rediscovery.
No opening hours, admission fees, or accessibility information are available for this site.

Where this château is

Warburg · Kreis Höxter · Nordrhein-Westfalen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

34414 Warburg

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

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4.6 / 5from 194 Google reviews

Heritage status: Protection status unknown
Period of construction: 12th century

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Frequently asked

Can you visit the Holsterburg today?: You can walk through the excavated archaeological site, but no building has survived above ground.
Why did the Holsterburg disappear for so long?: After its destruction in 1294 it was covered by an earth mound, leaving it forgotten until excavations began in 2010.
What makes the Holsterburg unusual?: Its octagonal ground plan, an extremely rare shape among medieval German castles, of which only three examples are known in the country.
Who built the Holsterburg?: It was built around 1150 by the brothers Hermann and Bernhard Berkule to control the surrounding farmland and the road between Warburg and Kassel.