Burg Wildenburg

Burg Wildenburg stands as a ruined hilltop fortress in the Wildenburger Land, a small region in the northern part of Landkreis Altenkirchen. It sits above the tiny settlement of Wildenburg, which lies in the valley below. The site overlooks the old Hileweg, later called the Bergische Eisenstraße, a medieval trade route. The castle once controlled this important road through the hills. Its steep slopes made the position easy to defend. The Wildenburg was first mentioned in the 13th century as the seat of the Lords of Wildenburg. In 1239 they took the name from the castle. After the last lord died in 1418, the Hatzfeldt family inherited the property through marriage. They still own parts of the site today. The castle served as a centre of local power for centuries. In the 19th century it was used as a quarry and fell into ruin. Visitors can walk around the outer ward at any time. The tall round bergfried still rises more than twenty metres above the ground. It wears a later baroque roof and slates. Traces remain of buildings from the 14th to 18th centuries. A polygonal bastion from the 15th or 16th century was rebuilt in 1757 and again in 1932–33. Inside the private courtyard stands the Hatzfeldt forester’s house. The ruins offer wide views over the surrounding hills and valleys.