Winzenburg, Medieval castle ruins in Thale, Germany

Winzenburg is the protected remnant of a hilltop fortification on a rocky spur in the Bodetal valley, about 500 m southwest of Thale. Its main rampart, the Heidenwall, ran roughly 500 m north to south and was up to 6 m high and 8 m thick; the enclosed plateau covered about 25 ha. No visible traces of the main castle survive, and the Winzenburg tower within the area was built in 1860 as a lookout tower.

The rampart known as Heidenwall was built in several stages, with its lowest layers dated to the Neolithic and its uppermost layers to the Middle Ages; mortar remains in the upper layers point to destroyed buildings. The site later became known as Winzenburg and covered about 25 hectares, with the main castle measuring 500 by 400 metres. No written sources survive to explain when or why it was abandoned.

The name Winzenburg was applied to the site only later; the earlier rampart is known as the Heidenwall. The main wall ran about 500 m from north to south and stood up to 6 m high and 8 m thick, built in several phases from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. Mortar remains in the upper layers point to buildings that were destroyed.

Visiting requires sturdy footwear because the paths cross hilly terrain with some steep sections. Bring enough water and allow time to explore the site, as the area is quite extensive.

The Winzenburg tower is not part of the medieval fortress at all: it was built in 1860 as a lookout tower within the old rampart area. The site itself is a wall fortification, the Heidenwall, whose ramparts ran about 500 m from north to south and were up to 6 m high and 8 m thick.