Habichtsburg, Medieval castle ruins in Meiningen, Germany

Habichtsburg is a ruined medieval rock castle on a spur about 40 metres above the Haßfurtschlucht gorge, roughly 2.5 km west of Meiningen. The 70 by 40 metre site is protected by sheer cliffs on three sides; access from the east passed a neck ditch up to seven metres wide and ten metres deep, with an outer barrier ditch about thirty metres in front. A round keep with a 5.2 metre interior diameter once stood beside the eastern gate building; it was replaced by a pavilion in the 19th century, when a sham ruin was built over the medieval remains using their stone.

The diocese of Würzburg built this fortress in the 11th century to protect its territorial interests in the region. It served as a key position for controlling trade routes and border areas during the High Middle Ages.

The name Habichtsburg derives from the earlier form Habesburg. The site lies on the Alte Frankfurter Straße, a medieval trade route from Gotha to Würzburg and Frankfurt that now serves as a hiking trail through the Haßfurtschlucht. Nearby in the gorge stands the Marienbild, a pilgrimage site for Meiningen's Catholic community.

The ruins are accessible via marked hiking trails from the Schloss Landsberg parking area, which lead upward from the valley to the rocky summit. Visit in dry conditions, as the paths are steep and the final approach to the top can become slippery.

The castle was rebuilt in the 19th century as an artificial ruin, using stone taken from the medieval walls. A round tower once stood by the eastern gate; it was replaced by a pavilion. A rock-cut shaft 3.1 metres wide was dug out in the 19th century in the hope of finds, destroying the archaeological record.