Ipf

The Ipf is a mostly treeless mountain near Bopfingen in the Ostalbkreis region of Baden-Württemberg. It rises to 668 metres and has a prehistoric hill fort on its summit. The fort sits on a flattened hilltop surrounded by a stone wall, ditch and large outer bank. Its overall diameter is about 180 metres. Ramparts run across the slopes to protect a large enclosed area and entrance. The site shows occupation from the Bronze Age through the Iron Age to the early Celtic La Tène period, a span of almost a thousand years. During the early Iron Age Hallstatt period and into the early La Tène period the Ipf was an important princely seat. It served as a regional centre of power and aristocratic residence with long-distance trade connections. These included links with Greece and Italy. The summit was already levelled, fortified and densely settled in the Urnfield period. Evidence from the site places occupation between 1200 BC and 300 BC. Visitors reach the summit by following paths that cross the ramparts and ditches. The wide views extend over the Swabian-Franconian countryside. The stone walls and earthworks remain clearly visible. The site is quiet and open, with few trees on the summit. The surrounding slopes are covered in grassland. The atmosphere reflects the site’s ancient role as a fortified centre of power.