Rudelsburg, Castle ruin near Saaleck, Germany.
Rudelsburg is a castle ruin near Naumburg featuring a Romanesque square keep from the 12th century rising approximately 85 meters above the Saale River. The site shows the foundations and remaining walls of the fortification overlooking the river valley.
The Bishop of Naumburg built this fortification in 1050 to secure trade routes through the Saale Valley and collect taxes at nearby river crossings. The structure served as a control point for this economically important region for centuries.
The ruins have served as an annual gathering place since 1855 for the Kösener Senioren-Convents-Verband, a federation of German student associations that continues to meet here. This tradition has made the location a significant place of memory for these communities.
The grounds are accessible year-round and connected to hiking trails linking to the Romanesque Road route. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and steep in places.
Archaeological digs uncovered evidence of Bronze Age settlements from the Unetice culture beneath the medieval castle structures. These findings show that this elevated location overlooking the river has attracted settlers for thousands of years.
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