Burgruine Greifenstein

Burgruine Greifenstein stands on the Schlossberg, a 442.5-metre hill in the southern Eichsfeld near the Hesse border. It overlooks the valleys of the Werra region about two thousand metres west of Großtöpfer and two thousand metres east of Kella. The ruin is reached by the L2030 road and several walking paths that climb to the summit. The castle’s history began in the late 14th century when it was first recorded in 1397. Erfurt, Mühlhausen and Nordhausen joined forces with Duke Otto of Brunswick to destroy it for raiding roads. After rebuilding, the archbishop of Mainz took control, later pawning it to the lords of Bültzingslöwen. By the late 16th century the fortress had lost its military value and was left to decay. Visitors today see the five-metre stub of the round bergfried, parts of the cellar vault and remnants of walls and ditches. The sandstone masonry is plain, without elaborate ornament. From the summit there are wide views across the Eichsfeld countryside.