Kugelsburg, Medieval castle ruin in Volkmarsen, Germany.
Kugelsburg is a castle ruin on a hill above Volkmarsen in northern Hesse, with standing stone walls, a tower visitors can enter, and a series of underground chambers. The underground rooms, known as the Hexenkeller, are reached through narrow staircases carved into the rock.
The castle was built in the late 12th century to guard trade routes running between Fritzlar and Paderborn. It changed hands several times over the centuries before being heavily damaged during two major conflicts, the Thirty Years' War and the Seven Years' War.
The name Hexenkeller, meaning witch cellar, comes from old local legends and has nothing to do with actual events. Visitors who walk through these underground rooms today still encounter this storytelling tradition firsthand.
The tower is open to climb and offers open views over the northern Hesse countryside, while the underground chambers require sturdy footwear and careful footing on the tight staircases. A visit in dry weather makes the hillside paths easier to navigate.
Although the site is classed as a ruin, part of the original vaulted cellars remains fully intact and can still be walked through. This level of preservation in the underground sections is rare for a structure of this age in the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
