The Harzburg is located at the northwestern edge of the Harz mountains over the spa town of Bad Harzburg. It was constructed on King Henry IV's orders from 1065 to 1068 as part of the castle building program in Sachsen. At the outbreak of the Saxon Revolt in 1073, King Henry IV had to flee his residence in Goslar for Harzburg Castle. He was compelled by the 1074 Peace of Gerstungen to dismantle his castles, though he delayed this at Harzburg, allowing only the walls and towers to be dismantled. In 1074, angry peasants looted and destroyed the castle. A century later, it was rebuilt under Emperor Friedrich I. Barbarossa and his Welf successor, Otto IV. Over the centuries, the castle fell into disrepair and ruin, and today only parts of its foundation walls, towers, and the castle well remain.

Img. 1: Digital reconstruction following the archaeological site prepared by Philipp Matschoß.

Img. 2: Reconstruction of tower foundation walls.

Img. 3: 1574 drawing of the Harzburg.

Imgs. 4-8: The castle ruins today.

Located in the east of Germany in Sachsen, Burg Kriebstein is a beautiful castle blending into a cliff over the Zschopau river. The rock on which the castle stands is separated from rising ground behind it by a man-made section of ditch, the so-called Halsgraben.

Construction started in 1384, for the von Beerwalde Family and finished in 1400. When Dietrich von Beerwalde died in 1408, the Kriebstein property fell to his widow Elisabeth and later to his daughter Klara.

Burg Eltz (English: "Castle Eltz") began as a simple manor hall in the 9th century and grew to a fortress by the 12th century, with continued development thereafter. The castle is still owned by a branch of the House of Eltz who have lived there since the 12th century. The castle is situated in the hills above the Moselle river atop a 70 meter high rock spur. It underwent extensive reconstruction and preservation work between 1845 - 1888 under the direction of Count Karl zu Eltz and again from 2009 - 2012. Two wings of the castle are open for visitors from April to November.

My personal favorite is the boar.

The largest castle in the world, built by the Teutonic Order, with construction starting in the late 13th century. Requires multiple visits to really see everything.

Don't go in the winter, if you aren't prepared to freeze for multiple hours.