Burg Freckleben: A Medieval Fortification and Residence in Aschersleben, Germany

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.freckleben.com

Country: Germany

Civilization: Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Burg Freckleben is located in the municipality of Aschersleben in modern-day Germany. The site was originally established by early medieval settlers, with fortifications likely dating back to the Carolingian era, an important period in European history associated with Charlemagne and the expansion of Frankish influence.

The earliest record of the settlement appears in 762 under the name “Frekenlevo” in the Fulda foundation book, suggesting the site’s importance during this time. Its large earthworks from this period cover a much wider area than the later castle, indicating that an extensive fortified complex existed in the early Middle Ages. By 973, Freckleben was part of a property exchange confirmed by Emperor Otto II, granting it to Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg, who is known to have died at the location in 981. This points to a noble or ecclesiastical residence being present on the site during the 10th century.

In the 12th century, control of the castle passed to the Margraves of the Nordmark of the Stade family. They are credited with constructing the first round tower of the fortress in the early 1100s. The last of this family to hold Freckleben was Count Udo, who died in 1130 amid conflict. Following his death, Emperor Lothar III assumed direct control of the fief and subsequently reassigned it. By 1166, Archbishop Wichmann of Seeburg acquired the property from Emperor Frederick I. During this period, Freckleben’s position on a key route connecting the towns of Halle, Aschersleben, and Halberstadt underscored its strategic importance.

Around the year 1200, considerable building activity took place, including the erection of a second major tower distinguished by a rectangular base evolving into an octagonal upper section. This tower incorporated residential facilities such as fireplaces and latrines, reflecting advancements in castle design that balanced defense with permanent habitation. The upper castle featured a courtyard entirely enclosed by various buildings, with a drawbridge access serving the second bergfried (a type of tower). Such development marks a phase in which Freckleben functioned both as a stronghold and a noble residence.

The castle was managed by appointed officials known as burgraves until 1296. After this date, the administrative role was discontinued and ownership of the lordship was divided among several noble families. In 1479, the lordship transferred to Princes Waldemar and Georg of Anhalt, who held it as a fief from the Archbishopric of Magdeburg. From the 16th century onward, Freckleben gradually transitioned into a domain estate, coming under the possession of the Dessau line during the 17th century.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the site saw significant changes to its economic and agricultural buildings. The domain was taken into state ownership in 1896, and near 1900, a large round tower from the lower castle was dismantled. After the Second World War, the property was divided into several separate farms, reusing parts of the castle’s structures for agricultural purposes.

Remains

Burg Freckleben occupies an oval-shaped fortification extending roughly 300 by 600 meters, situated on a natural spur with steep slopes on three sides. The layout reflects early medieval defensive techniques, prominently featuring a series of extensive earthworks. These include multiple ramparts on the south side, arranged in three successive embankments separated by a double ditch; an additional outer rampart lies approximately 120 meters further south, capitalizing on a natural drop in the terrain to strengthen the defense.

Among the surviving man-made structures, three main towers (bergfrieds) mark different stages of the castle’s development. The earliest, known as Bergfried 1, dates from the early 12th century and is part of the lower castle. Constructed with robust masonry, its walls measure about three meters in thickness, enclosing an inner diameter of four meters. The tower’s outer wall includes an additional protective mantle roughly 1.3 meters thick. Today, this tower stands preserved to a height of 16 meters. Nearby are remnants of the surrounding ring wall as well as a basement belonging to a residential building situated to the southeast, indicating the presence of living quarters close to this defensive tower.

Bergfried 3, built at the end of the 12th century or around 1200, presents a distinctive architectural form. Its lower four floors maintain a rectangular footprint, which transitions into an octagonal shape on the uppermost level. Within this tower, the third and fourth floors were equipped with fireplaces and latrines that project from the main walls, providing comforts associated with dwelling spaces. The exterior is decorated with Romanesque-style twin windows on these upper floors, combining both aesthetic and functional considerations. A drawbridge was once attached to a high entrance on this tower, connecting it to structures on the north side of the upper castle courtyard that enclosed the space entirely.

The upper castle area includes a noteworthy building north of Bergfried 1, identified by its notably thick walls as a probable residential house. This suggests that the site not only served defensive needs but also provided substantial accommodation. Today, the outer parts of the castle are open, and the surviving towers offer unique access features, such as the German screw-spindle ladders on the upper floors of Bergfried 3, which allow visitors to climb the tower in a manner reflecting historical construction practices.

Together, the preserved Romanesque buildings from the circa 1200 construction phase, the remains of early medieval earthworks, and the notable medieval towers create a layered archaeological record. This illustrates Freckleben’s long history as both a fortified site and a residence adapted over centuries to changing political and military demands.