Burg Werle: A Medieval Fortress and Seigniory in Germany
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.1
Popularity: Very Low
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Country: Germany
Civilization: Unclassified
Remains: Military
History
Burg Werle is located near the present-day town of Kassow in Germany. It was established around the year 600 by the Obotrites, a Slavic tribe who inhabited the area now known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
During the early medieval period, Burg Werle functioned as a fortified center and later became the residence of the princes of Werle. This fortress held a significant strategic position along the Warnow River, which made it a focal point in the conflicts of the German eastward expansion during the Middle Ages. Its importance is underscored by the repeated assaults it endured as control over the region shifted between Slavic and German rulers.
One pivotal episode occurred in 1160, when Duke Henry the Lion captured the fortress through a deceptive tactic. During this event, the Slavic prince Niklot was killed, marking a turning point in the region’s control. Following this, Niklot’s sons, Pribislaw I and Wartislaw, briefly regained possession of Burg Werle but were forced to relinquish it again in 1163. Wartislaw attempted to defend the stronghold during a harsh winter campaign but was captured and executed by Henry the Lion in reprisal. After a subsequent peace arrangement, control of Burg Werle was permanently restored to Pribislaw I.
By the 13th century, the fortress had lost its military significance and was abandoned. The site subsequently evolved into the seat of the seigniory of Werle, an administrative domain that carried the name forward but no longer relied on the original fortress structures.
Remains
Today, the original fortress of Burg Werle does not survive above ground. Its precise location is identified by an artificial mound created in 1856. This earthen mound serves as a visible marker in the landscape and is topped by a large granite boulder, known as a glacial erratic, which weighs approximately six tons. This stone was placed deliberately on the site to signify the historic importance of the location.
The mound’s construction reflects a 19th-century effort to commemorate the position of the once-significant fortress rather than preserve any in situ remains from the medieval structure. No other architectural elements such as foundations, walls, gates, or inscriptions survive or have been documented at the site. The surroundings on the right bank of the Warnow River near modern Werle have maintained this symbolic memorial without visible remnants of the fortress’s original form or detail.
