Wettin Castle

Burg Wettin stands on a rocky outcrop above the Saale river, near the town of Wettin in the Saalekreis district. The castle was the original seat of the House of Wettin, a dynasty that once ruled many European lands. In 982, Dedo I and Frederick received lands from the Wends, including the county of Wettin. The family’s origins may trace back to a man named Wettekind, though no written proof exists. Thimo, a descendant of Dietrich, is said to have built the first castle here. Today the ruins form part of a larger building that houses a school and other public uses. The castle is worth the journey because it gave its name to one of Europe’s most influential dynasties. The House of Wettin included the royal families of the United Kingdom and Belgium. Its branches once governed lands across central Germany and beyond. Though the original fortress is now a rebuilt ruin, the site still carries the family’s early history. Other castles owned by the Wettins survive in Meissen and along the Elbe. Visitors find the castle ruins set high above the Saale, with sweeping views of the river valley. The rebuilt sections form part of a working school and public buildings. The rocky outcrop on which it stands adds to the dramatic setting. Nearby, the town of Wettin preserves its medieval character along the riverbank. The castle’s surviving walls and towers recall the power of the Wettin dynasty in the 10th century.