Burg Natternberg: A Historic Hilltop Castle in Deggendorf, Germany

Visitor Information

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Official Website: burgenseite.de

Country: Germany

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Burg Natternberg is located in the municipality of Deggendorf, Germany. The site’s origins trace back to prehistoric times, with a fortified settlement established as early as around 1000 BCE. Over the centuries, it developed into a medieval hilltop castle predominantly built and expanded during the Early Middle Ages.

The first written record of Burg Natternberg dates from 1145, appearing in a charter issued by the Windberg monastery. This document identifies Hartwig von Natternberg as the castle’s noble resident and castellan, serving under the Counts of Bogen. The castle functioned as a seat of local power within their domain. Following the extinction of the Bogen family in 1242, ownership passed to the Wittelsbach dynasty. Under the rule of Otto II of Wittelsbach, Burg Natternberg became the administrative center for the surrounding area, housing a Pfleger, or local official responsible for managing estates and justice.

One notable figure associated with the castle was Duke Heinrich the Natternberger of Bavaria, who spent his childhood there. He died at Burg Natternberg in 1333 due to complications from an untreated leg injury. Later in the 14th century, the castle was granted as a fief to Peter von Egg, an imperial military leader serving Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria. However, after enduring a siege lasting approximately one year, Peter was compelled to surrender the castle back to the Wittelsbach dukes in 1357.

Burg Natternberg endured through the tumultuous period of the Thirty Years’ War between 1618 and 1648, during which it suffered considerable damage. Despite this, it continued to serve administrative functions until its destruction on May 19, 1743, during the War of Austrian Succession.

In the 19th century, following the abandonment of its role as an administrative seat, the castle passed through various hands, including the Counts of Preysing and Baron Berger. It remained inhabited up until World War II. Archaeological excavations carried out in 1997 and 1998 revealed the foundations of the castle church, showcasing its Romanesque design with a rounded apse connected directly to the southern defensive wall. Today, Burg Natternberg holds protected monument status under Bavarian heritage laws, recognized for its significance both as a medieval castle ruin and as a site with prehistoric origins spanning several early European cultural periods.

Remains

Burg Natternberg occupies a long, narrow hilltop plateau measuring roughly 230 meters in length and 40 meters in width. The fortress layout is divided by an internal wall and originally featured two towers positioned near the northeast and southeast corners. Constructed primarily of stone, the fortification walls encompass the core area and residential structures, following the contours of the hill.

The most prominent surviving component is the southeast corner tower, known as the bergfried, which served as a watchtower and stronghold. Built on a square foundation approximately 9 meters per side, its walls reach up to 3 meters thick. This tower included a gated entrance and was topped with a pyramid-shaped roof added around 1900. The bergfried was still inhabited in the early 20th century and was subject to restoration efforts during the 1980s.

Remnants of the second tower stand at the northeast corner; this structure likely functioned either as a residence or gate tower. Additional fragments of the curtain wall encircle the castle grounds, enclosing the inner bailey, or core section of the fortress where key buildings once stood. Foundations of numerous later residential buildings are found within the enclosure, including a small palace from the 18th century situated near the southeast corner.

Archaeological investigations uncovered the base of the castle church, which was constructed in the Romanesque style. It featured a round apse and was built flush against the southern ring wall, integrating religious space directly into the castle’s fortifications. Other surviving elements include vaulted basement rooms and sections of the ring wall. While some upper-wall structures and building remnants date to renovation or rebuilding phases in the 19th century, the layout preserves the medieval footprint of the site.

Historical illustrations by Michael Wening depict a castle chapel and additional buildings that no longer survive on-site. Today, the ruins extend over a prominent hill rising about 375 meters above sea level. The site’s location offers commanding views of the surrounding landscape and remains accessible via the Via Danubia cycling route. Recognized as both a prehistoric settlement area and a medieval fortress, Burg Natternberg provides tangible remains reflecting its long and varied history.