Hagburg

The Hagburg is a small early-medieval earthwork near Hürnheim in Swabia. It stands on a wooded ridge above the Kartäusertal, facing the ruined castle of Hochhaus. The site dates from the 8th to 10th centuries and once formed part of a wider network of defences. Historians such as Otto Schneider and Kurt Böhner believed the Hagburg served as a refuge for a Carolingian estate in nearby Hürnheim. Its size and stone-reinforced ramparts suggest it was built during the Hungarian invasions of the 10th century. The nearby Weiherberg holds an even larger fortification of the same period, hinting that the Hagburg acted as a forward post guarding the valley entrance. Visitors reach the site along a quiet forest path that leads to the triple line of ramparts and ditches. The outer wall curves for about 170 metres and still stands two metres high in places. Inside, the roughly triangular interior covers about 5 500 square metres of open ground, with steep slopes on two sides. Archaeologists found traces of dry-stone walls and burnt pottery when they excavated in 1939. The views across the Kartäusertal and towards the Hochhaus ruins reward anyone willing to climb the final slope.