Anhalt Castle

The ruins stand on the Großer Hausberg, a hill situated between the villages of Meisdorf and Mägdesprung, above the Selke valley.The area is part of the Harz/Saxony-Anhalt Nature Park; at a short distance up the Selke river is the preserved Falkenstein Castle.The castle was first mentioned in 1140: while Otto's son Albert the Bear fought for the Saxon ducal title against the rivalling Welf dynasty, the fortress was devastated by the forces of the Archbishop of Magdeburg and Margrave Conrad of Meissen.All that remains of the castle today are a few wall sections from the chapel, living quarters and outbuildings, and the base of the bergfried, which is about three metres high.Large parts of the premises were restored and made accessible to the public in 2012, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the establishment of the Anhalt principality.
Information board on the site of the castle gate
Harzgerodehill castleGermanmedievalSaxony-AnhaltGermanyMeisdorfMägdesprungHarz/Saxony-Anhalt Nature ParkFalkenstein CastleOtto of BallenstedtHouse of AscaniaConrad IISchwabengauSaxon Eastern MarchAdalbert IIEilikaMagnus of SaxonyPolabian Slavscollegiate churchBallenstedtBenedictinePrincipality of AnhaltAlbert the BearArchbishop of MagdeburgConrad of MeissenWartburgMiddle Low GermanAlexius of Anhalt-BernburgBrunswickbergfriedHarzer Wandernadel