Rauschenburg, Medieval castle ruins in Olfen, Germany
Rauschenburg is a rectangular water castle featuring a main island surrounded by a moat with a three-winged structure oriented toward the Lippe River. The ruins that remain show the layout of this former fortified residence positioned to control the river crossing.
First mentioned in 1050, the castle served as a strategic stronghold to secure the ford crossing the Lippe River. It was gradually abandoned starting around 1900 as its military importance declined over time.
The castle changed hands among regional noble families including von Rechede, von Landsberg, von Ascheberg, and von Twickel, each leaving their mark on the place. Today you can sense how these families shaped the character of this location along the river.
The ruins stand on private property with limited public access, so view them from a distance and respect posted boundaries. The site is reachable on foot from Olfen and offers good vantage points from the surrounding area.
The name Rauschenburg comes from the sound of rapids that once existed at this location on the Lippe River during medieval times. Today that sound has disappeared as the river's flow and structure changed over the centuries.
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