Dehmer Burg

Dehmer Burg is an Iron Age fortification in Bad Oeynhausen that sits on a mountain ridge about 100 meters high. The triangular site spreads across several hectares and benefits from natural protection provided by steep ravines on two of its sides.

The fortification was built around 500 BC and remained in use until about the 7th century. After that time, the site was abandoned and gradually faded from active human occupation.

The site takes its name from the ancient fortress and draws visitors interested in early settlement patterns. The landscape itself tells the story of the people who once lived here, and their traces remain visible in the shape of the terrain today.

The site is accessible through an old sunken path on the southwestern side of the mountain that is deeply carved into the ground. Wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is uneven and can become slippery when wet.

Charcoal samples collected in the 1980s suggest the fortification may have originated later than long believed. This surprising discovery has raised questions about when the site was actually founded.