Stapelburg Castle, Medieval castle in Nordharz, Germany.
Stapelburg Castle is a stone fortification situated on a hilltop at the northern edge of the Harz mountains with characteristic defensive walls and structures. The layout follows the typical arrangement for mountaintop fortresses of the period, with features designed to provide protection and command of the surrounding terrain.
The Counts of Wernigerode built the fortress before 1306 to supervise an important traffic route between their territories. Later, the Diocese of Halberstadt acquired the site and used it to control and secure its regional holdings.
The castle reflects the building style typical of noble residences in the northern Harz region. Visitors can still see the sturdy walls and defensive walkways that show how such fortifications looked and functioned during the Middle Ages.
Visitors should bring sturdy footwear because the site has uneven terrain and paths to the ruins can be rocky or steep. It helps to bring a flashlight to explore the interiors of the stone structures more easily.
The fortress functioned as a toll station where goods and travelers on the passing road were checked and fees collected. This economic role made the castle particularly valuable and eventually attracted the attention of church institutions.
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