Riepenburg, Medieval castle ruins in Kirchwerder, Germany
Riepenburg is a castle ruin in Bergedorf consisting of a steep mound with a tower-like timber-framed structure surrounded by inner and outer moats with embankments. The hill and sections of the outer walls remain visible today at Kraueler Hauptdeich.
The fortress was founded around 1250 to control river crossings and collect tolls at the Elbe. It was demolished between 1508 and 1512 when its strategic importance declined.
The site shows how nobility in northern Germany lived and built their fortifications during the Middle Ages. The remaining structures tell of construction methods from an era when such places meant control over river passages.
The site can be explored on informative walking paths that lead through the hill structure. The location is relatively easy to reach, though visitors should expect uneven terrain.
The fortress stood at a former branch of the Gose-Elbe River, allowing it to monitor and control three different Elbe channels. This strategic waterside position was the reason for its importance as a toll station.
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