Bergfeste Dilsberg, Medieval fortress in Neckargemünd, Germany.
Bergfeste Dilsberg is a medieval fortress sitting on a hilltop roughly 160 meters above the Neckar River, enclosed by complete city walls and defensive structures. The complex includes a central tower, residential buildings, and walkways that show how people lived and defended this place in medieval times.
The fortress was founded in 1150 by the Counts of Lauffen and became a key defense point in the region. During the 14th century, it transformed into an administrative center for the Electoral Palatinate and remained important for generations.
Mark Twain visited the fortress and wrote about it in his book 'A Tramp Abroad', noting the underground passages he saw. The place remains a reminder of how travelers in the 19th century shared their discoveries with the world.
Access is available from March through October, Tuesday to Sunday, while visits from November to March need to be arranged in advance with the local tourist office. The path up to the site is steep, but once you arrive, you can walk around the entire grounds and explore all areas.
Beneath the fortress runs a 78-meter-long underground tunnel that connects to a 46-meter-deep well inside the inner walls. This construction reveals the engineering knowledge medieval builders had about water supply and emergency escape routes.
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