Old Falkenstein Castle ( or "Burg Alt-Falkenstein") in the Harz Mountains of Germany is the castle site or "burgstall" of a high medieval hill castle. It lies on the territory of Falkenstein/Harz in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in the district of Harz. It was built in the 11th century A.D. and destroyed in 1115.
Location.
The ruins of Old Falkenstein are located in the eastern Harz region of Mansfeld Land between Mägdesprung (north of Harzgerode) and Meisdorf (southwest of Falkenstein/Harz) on a rocky ridge ( sea level (NN)) above the valley of the River Selke. In the forested landscape of the Harz/Saxony-Anhalt Nature Park, it lies within the nature reserve of "Selketal" ("Selke Valley") about northwest of the "Köhlerhütte", which itself is northwest of Pansfelde near "Kreisstraße" 1344. From there woodland paths run over the "Hirschplatte", up to  NN, to the ruins.
About east-northeast lies New Falkenstein Castle, a preserved medieval ridgetop castle.
History.
The castle was probably built under the lordship of the German Emperor Henry IV. Its architect was the Swabian cleric and later bishop, Benno II of Osnabrück. After the Battle of Welfesholz on 11 February 1115 the castle was slighted under the direction of the Saxon duke, Lothair of Süpplingenburg and was never rebuilt. Afterwards the neighbouring castle of New Falkenstein was built, and the Old Falkenstein was probably no longer occupied from the beginning of the 12th century, as surviving pottery shards indicate.
Layout.
The castle site consisted of an oval inner ward, roughly in size, as well as a narrow outer ward about long, the whole site extending over some in length. Today, elements of the circular moat ("Ringgraben") and advanced rampart ("Vorwall") as well as remnants of the northern ring wall ("Ringmauer") are still visible.
From the rocky ridge of the ruined castle there are views of the Selke valley. A cross recalls the fatal accident here on 11 July 2003 of local history researcher and area monument curator, Hans Reißmann.
References.
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