Eifgenburg, Medieval hillfort in Burscheid, Germany
Eifgenburg is a medieval hillfort located on a steep ridge overlooking the Eifgenbach valley in Burscheid. The site features a substantial ring wall and ditch system that takes advantage of the slope and remains visible today.
Excavations between 1939 and 1940 revealed that the site was built during the 11th century using greywacke sandstone and mortar construction. This early medieval building technique highlights the importance of the location as a strategic point in the region.
The name Eifgenburg comes from the Eifgenbach valley below, which the fortification overlooks and has long dominated the local landscape. Visitors can see the wall and ditch systems that remain as evidence of how this ridge was once used as a protected settlement.
The site is located within Naturpark Bergisches Land and is accessible via marked walking paths through dense deciduous forest. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the trail to the ridge can be steep and occasionally slippery.
Beneath the surface lies a rectangular cellar structure positioned deep within the fortification, possibly used for storage or refuge during emergencies. This underground chamber reveals how inhabitants adapted the hillside itself for protection in multiple ways.
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