Archaeologists in Germany are uncovering new details about the history of Neuenburg Castle, a medieval fortress overlooking the town of Freyburg in Saxony-Anhalt. Recent excavations beneath the castle’s massive tower known as the Dicker Wilhelm (“Fat William”) have revealed dense traces of medieval settlement, including the remains of a heated residential building.
Neuenburg Castle was founded around 1090 by Louis the Springer, a Thuringian noble also responsible for building the Wartburg. Perched above the Unstrut River, the “new castle” (novum castrum) was strategically positioned to secure power in the region. Its earliest construction phase included imposing fortifications, among them a round tower and two unusual octagonal towers—possibly inspired by Byzantine architecture.
Later additions transformed Neuenburg into a princely residence. Around 1180, builders added a palas (residential hall) and the famous Romanesque double chapel, whose finely carved decoration places the site on Germany’s celebrated “Romanesque Road” of medieval monuments. Over the centuries, successive rulers expanded and modified the castle, including Landgrave Louis IV and his wife, Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, in the early 13th century.
Excavations Below the “Fat William”
View over the excavation area on the outer bailey of Neuenburg Castle with uncovered remains of medieval building structures in the former ‘long barn’. Photo by State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
The current investigations, led by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt in cooperation with the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (the castle’s owner), form part of a government-funded programme to preserve and develop major cultural monuments. Work is taking place in the castle’s outer bailey, directly beneath the towering Dicker Wilhelm.
Excavations have revealed layers of medieval construction buried beneath later agricultural buildings. One of the most striking finds is a residential structure with a vaulted cellar and the remains of a tiled stove—evidence of a sophisticated heating system. Similar hot-air heating was already in use in the palas by 1180, suggesting the newly discovered building belonged to high-ranking inhabitants.
Archaeologists caution, however, that precise dating is still pending. It remains unclear whether the structure belongs to the burgraves of the 12th century or possibly to an even earlier phase of occupation in the late 11th century. Scientific analysis of the finds will be crucial in resolving this question.
Reinterpreting the Outer Bailey
The tower known as Dicker Wilhelm (Fat William) – photo by Mewes / Wikimedia Commons
The excavations are also reshaping understanding of Neuenburg’s defences. A ditch long visible east of the castle has now been traced further north, possibly cutting across the ridge to create a separately defensible sector around the Dicker Wilhelm. If confirmed, this would show the outer bailey played a more complex role in the fortress’s defence system than previously thought.
Dense remains of other structures—including earlier occupation layers with a massive floor and pit complex—highlight the intensity of medieval activity in this area. Together, these discoveries promise to refine knowledge of the castle’s building phases and the social functions of its outer courts.
A Living Heritage Site
Beautifully shaped and dynamic: a toy horse from the 14th century, a typical find from a castle context. Photo by Holger Grönwald / State Office for Heritage Management and Archeology Saxony-Anhalt
Alongside archaeological research, Neuenburg Castle is undergoing modernization to enhance its role as a cultural tourism site. Plans include a new visitor information centre and redesigned outdoor spaces, funded jointly by the federal government and the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Visitors will have a rare chance to see the excavations firsthand during Germany’s nationwide Open Monument Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals) on 14 September 2025. Guided tours of the site will be offered free of charge at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., giving the public a glimpse of the medieval past being uncovered beneath one of central Germany’s most impressive castles.
Top Image: Photo by Wolkenkratzer / Wikimedia Commons
Archaeologists in Germany are uncovering new details about the history of Neuenburg Castle, a medieval fortress overlooking the town of Freyburg in Saxony-Anhalt. Recent excavations beneath the castle’s massive tower known as the Dicker Wilhelm (“Fat William”) have revealed dense traces of medieval settlement, including the remains of a heated residential building.
Neuenburg Castle was founded around 1090 by Louis the Springer, a Thuringian noble also responsible for building the Wartburg. Perched above the Unstrut River, the “new castle” (novum castrum) was strategically positioned to secure power in the region. Its earliest construction phase included imposing fortifications, among them a round tower and two unusual octagonal towers—possibly inspired by Byzantine architecture.
Later additions transformed Neuenburg into a princely residence. Around 1180, builders added a palas (residential hall) and the famous Romanesque double chapel, whose finely carved decoration places the site on Germany’s celebrated “Romanesque Road” of medieval monuments. Over the centuries, successive rulers expanded and modified the castle, including Landgrave Louis IV and his wife, Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, in the early 13th century.
Excavations Below the “Fat William”
The current investigations, led by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt in cooperation with the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (the castle’s owner), form part of a government-funded programme to preserve and develop major cultural monuments. Work is taking place in the castle’s outer bailey, directly beneath the towering Dicker Wilhelm.
Excavations have revealed layers of medieval construction buried beneath later agricultural buildings. One of the most striking finds is a residential structure with a vaulted cellar and the remains of a tiled stove—evidence of a sophisticated heating system. Similar hot-air heating was already in use in the palas by 1180, suggesting the newly discovered building belonged to high-ranking inhabitants.
Archaeologists caution, however, that precise dating is still pending. It remains unclear whether the structure belongs to the burgraves of the 12th century or possibly to an even earlier phase of occupation in the late 11th century. Scientific analysis of the finds will be crucial in resolving this question.
Reinterpreting the Outer Bailey
The excavations are also reshaping understanding of Neuenburg’s defences. A ditch long visible east of the castle has now been traced further north, possibly cutting across the ridge to create a separately defensible sector around the Dicker Wilhelm. If confirmed, this would show the outer bailey played a more complex role in the fortress’s defence system than previously thought.
Dense remains of other structures—including earlier occupation layers with a massive floor and pit complex—highlight the intensity of medieval activity in this area. Together, these discoveries promise to refine knowledge of the castle’s building phases and the social functions of its outer courts.
A Living Heritage Site
Alongside archaeological research, Neuenburg Castle is undergoing modernization to enhance its role as a cultural tourism site. Plans include a new visitor information centre and redesigned outdoor spaces, funded jointly by the federal government and the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Visitors will have a rare chance to see the excavations firsthand during Germany’s nationwide Open Monument Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals) on 14 September 2025. Guided tours of the site will be offered free of charge at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., giving the public a glimpse of the medieval past being uncovered beneath one of central Germany’s most impressive castles.
Top Image: Photo by Wolkenkratzer / Wikimedia Commons
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