Burgstall Grünberg, Medieval castle ruins in Grünberg, Hesse, Germany.
Burgstall Grünberg was a fortified stronghold positioned on a basalt hill to the northeast of the present-day city church. The structure served as a defensive garrison that commanded the approach to the valley and protected the surrounding territory.
Landgrave Ludwig III of Thuringia built the fortress in 1186 to defend the western frontier against the Diocese of Mainz. Centuries later it was converted into a residential structure before demolition in the 20th century.
The castle's name became the foundation for the entire settlement, with residents defining their identity through this medieval fortress. Its location shaped how the town developed and how people moved through the urban space.
The location sits on an elevated basalt hill within the city bounds and is easily walkable from the town center. It helps to familiarize yourself with the old city wall remains to understand how the medieval settlement was laid out.
By the 16th century the fortress had been converted into a three-story timber-frame house for residential use. This transformed building continued to stand for generations until its removal in the modern era.
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