High Above Schloss Hardenberg Lies A Castle Of A Similar Name: Burg Hardenberg, The Ruins Of A 12th Century Rock Castle.Germany Stock Image

High above Schloss Hardenberg lies a castle of a similar name: Burg Hardenberg, the ruins of a 12th century rock castle that was abandoned by the Hardenberg family at the beginning of the 18th century in favour of the more comfortable Schloss. The Hardenbergs, who were later created barons and, in 1778, counts, had been the owners of the Burg since 1287 when they received it as a fiefdom by the Guelph rulers. The castle had originally been built by the Archbishopric of Mainz to oversee two trading routes and previously been given as a fiefdom to the Lords of Rosdorf.