Burg Jossa, Medieval castle ruins in Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany
Burg Jossa is a castle ruin perched on a 295-meter-high ridge of Darsberg mountain, featuring a shield wall and double rampart facing the slope. The main tower had a diameter of about 8 meters, while some walls reached thicknesses of over 3 meters.
Brothers Gerhard and Giso von Jazza built this castle between 1290 and 1300, receiving it as a fief from Archbishop Peter of Mainz in 1312. The fortress gradually declined after 1360 because its small size made it impractical for strategic purposes.
The hilltop became a dance floor in 1860, showing how people repurposed old structures for their social gatherings. This shift reveals how communities adapted historical places to fit their needs at different times.
The ruins sit on an exposed ridge with wide views over the surrounding landscape, which means the approach requires some effort but rewards with good sightlines. Visitors should know that only the foundations and wall fragments remain, so exploring takes little time.
The castle lords remained neutral during neighboring feuds, which protected the fortress from military destruction. This peaceful stance was unusual for medieval castles, which often found themselves caught in territorial conflicts.
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