Alte Burg Neustadt-Glewe, Medieval counter-castle in Neustadt-Glewe, Germany.
Alte Burg Neustadt-Glewe is a medieval counter-castle built on a natural dune near the Elde River and contains several residential buildings and defensive structures. The complex comprises an Old House, a New House, a ring wall with gate, a wall-walk, and a tower with arrow slits designed for defense.
The castle was founded around 1250 by the Counts of Schwerin as a defensive stronghold against incursions from neighboring Dannenberg County and the dioceses of Havelberg and Ratzeburg. It represented a key shift in regional defense strategy and controlled river commerce in the area.
The main hall displays Gothic and Renaissance wall paintings preserved from the original construction period and features a medieval warm-air heating system built into the walls. Visitors can see how people lived here and what technical skills builders possessed centuries ago.
The building now functions as a museum with exhibitions about regional history, and visitors can explore the tower, dungeon, guardroom, and defensive chambers. The ring-shaped layout guides visitors naturally around the site, with viewing areas overlooking the Elde River offering perspective on the castle's defensive position.
Each summer an annual medieval festival takes place during the first weekend of June, featuring market vendors, acrobats, knights, and nobility in historical scenes that bring the life of that era to the present. The spectacle draws many visitors who come to experience the castle ruins in a particularly lively way during that weekend.
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