Isenburg (Saxony)

P3

Ruins of Isenburg with keep

The Isenburg is a ruined hill fort in the Western Erzgebirge between hard rock and the bath Schlemaer district torrent high above the valley of the river Mulde in Saxony.

History

As part of the settlement of the Ore Mountains, a weir was located on a promontory that rises at the mouth of the stream in the river Mulde, built. Archaeological finds indicate that the system was already in the 12th century. The name goes back to the name Isenburg iron castle and indicates either the iron mining, which took place in the area ( see also: Visitors mine Bad Schlema ), or he had the role of iron in the sense of impregnable.

Little is known about the history of the spur castle and its violent destruction. Secured documented references are not known. The traditions - the first description was in 1738 - describe the Isenburg as " robbery Castle ," " Old Castle " or "Iron Castle ", which is derived the present name. A medieval source does not exist for it, however. Already in the 14th century, the castle was destroyed and never rebuilt. The ruins were used from the 15th to the 17th century, probably as a shelter for the local population during armed conflicts. In 1750, the remains of the castle were demolished to build with the stones the Wildbacher church.

1934, the remains of the ramparts were exposed by the Reich Labor Service. The foundations of the city walls and the remains of the round the keep was restored in 1993.

Plant

One can distinguish a bailey and a lower and an upper castle, also there was a cistern. The facility encloses an area of ​​51 x 33 meters, the tower has at the base a diameter of about 9 meters and a wall thickness of 3 meters. Easy access to the only west side of the castle was further protected by a moat. The inner and outer shell composed of horizontal layers of rubble stone, while the core with feathered staggered layers of stone is ( opus spicatum ) bricked.

Others

For a visit to the ruins of an approximately 30 -minute walk from the train station Hartensteiner is recommended. Only about 200 meters from here there is the castle rock. At this point you cross the river Mulde and is now just below Castle Wolf Brunn. Here you turn left and walk through the forest Popp parallel to the upstream trough. After a short but steep climb, which is called " Gentle Heinrich", the road forks: Keeps you right, one first reaches the Wildbacher church a comfortable forest path. From here, follow the signs and reaches the ruins after a further 700 m.

If you choose the left path, you come across a wild and romantic, narrow path on the steep bank of the Mulde to the destination. This path is known as " robber barons Trail" and is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Mulde.

Very close to the Isenburg, but on the opposite shore trough, is the Prince cave. If you follow the path further upstream in the direction of Bad Schlema, can be reached within 1 km a radium source.