Burg Ellar: A Medieval Castle in Waldbrunn, Germany

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 4.6

Popularity: Very Low

Official Website: www.waldbrunn.de

Country: Germany

Civilization: Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Burg Ellar stands in the municipality of Waldbrunn in Germany, built by medieval German nobility during the late 13th century. It was most likely established by the Counts of Diez to secure important imperial roads near a toll station known as Gadelheimer Mühle.

The earliest known reference to the castle dates from 1323, mentioning a certain Heinricus, who served as burgrave, or castle governor, for Count Emicho I of Nassau-Hadamar. Over the course of the 14th century, officials connected with the castle often adopted Ellar as a surname or nickname, reflecting their role and association. Between 1337 and 1362, the Counts of Diez pledged Burg Ellar to the Counts of Nassau-Hadamar. Following its redemption from pledge, repairs were undertaken to maintain the site.

In the years 1367 and 1368, the castle entered the possession of the County of Katzenelnbogen as part of a dowry arrangement. Emperor Charles IV officially confirmed Burg Ellar as an immediate imperial fief, meaning it owed service directly to the emperor rather than a regional lord. Around 1400, documentation links Johann I of Nassau-Dillenburg with the castle. A notable event occurred in 1408, when a peace treaty was signed at Burg Ellar between the Counts of Katzenelnbogen and Nassau-Siegen, resolving a long-standing dispute over succession rights.

During the mid-15th century Mainz Diocesan Feud, the castle was used strategically by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen in their conflict with the County of Sayn. The year 1479 marked a shift in ownership following the extinction of the Katzenelnbogen family line, with half of the castle passing to the Landgraviate of Hesse. The conflict over Katzenelnbogen’s inheritance was finally settled in 1557 by the Treaty of Frankfurt, which awarded full possession of the castle to Count William I of Nassau-Siegen.

Afterward, Burg Ellar’s military and political significance diminished, leading it into gradual decline. Nevertheless, during the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle functioned as an administrative center, housing an Amtmann, or local official, and a steward. Records from this time also mention a donjon—a strong tower—that doubled as a dovecote for raising pigeons. A small permanent staff maintained the castle, including a watchman stationed in the tower and two cooks.

The castle’s ruins received renewed attention during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, when they were restored to serve as a refuge for villagers seeking protection from the turmoil. Preservation efforts to secure and maintain the remains began much later, starting in 1969.

Remains

The surviving structure of Burg Ellar forms an almost rectangular shape, measuring approximately 21 by 27 meters across its outer edges. Its foundation walls are substantial, built from basalt stones roughly two meters thick. This sturdy construction suggests an emphasis on defense, even though the walls unusually lack openings like windows or arrow slits, which were commonly used in fortresses of the period for surveillance and archery.

In one corner of the castle, a donjon or tower rises, historically serving as a lookout point and signal post. This tower also had an unusual function as a dovecote, where pigeons would have been kept, as indicated by historical notes. Such dual-purpose use points to the castle’s blend of military and practical roles.

Within the castle’s interior courtyard, a modern covered pavilion has been constructed to support events. However, this addition is of recent origin and does not reflect the castle’s medieval layout. In earlier times, Burg Ellar was surrounded by outbuildings that have since vanished completely, leaving no trace today.

Historical accounts mention a bridge associated with the tower, likely connecting sections of the castle or providing access to the donjon, but no detailed descriptions survive. No inscriptions or decorative elements have been documented on the remaining walls or structures. The current state of the castle presents a fragmentary yet evocative example of a medieval stronghold adapted over centuries for various defensive and administrative purposes.