Holter Burg, Medieval castle ruins in Bissendorf, Germany.

Holter Burg is a medieval castle ruin in Bissendorf with remains of a round tower, fortification walls, and an extensive moat system. The site spans a large area and shows the typical defensive layout of a medieval lordly stronghold.

The Holter Burg was the family seat of the lords of Holte, first mentioned in 1134. A fire layer from around 1165 shows the castle was rebuilt and used again. The sources contradict the 1144 destruction date of a chronicle written around 1500; archaeology points to a destruction around 1200, and by 1261 the site was already called the 'former castle'.

The Holte family shaped the region through their connection to this stronghold, which served as the seat of their lordship. Some family members achieved high positions in the church and influenced the religious life of the surrounding area.

The site is freely accessible to visitors and offers good views of the ruins from multiple angles. Be careful on the sloping banks and moat edges, especially during damp weather.

The central round tower measured 15.5 metres across with walls 5.5 metres thick, and the chapel beside it was partly sunk into the sloping ground, leaving it half-cellar. Excavations in 1997 and 2006 uncovered jewellery, household utensils and coins, evidence of the high social rank of the residents.