Early medieval rampart at the Gröditzer Skala
| Place: | Gröditz (Weißenberg, Bautzen) |
|---|---|
| Type: | Castle rampart | fortifications/fortifications |
| Dating: | Slavic (general) | 900 - 1100 AD. |
Description
Northwest of Weißenberg, where the Löbauer Wasser flows from east to west, lies the "Gröditzer Skala" nature reserve“. Here, the river has cut a steep valley through the graywacke, whose partly rocky slopes are covered by a species-rich deciduous forest. This forms the heart of the Upper Lusatian nature reserve. The remains of a Slavic rampart from the early Middle Ages can be found on a mountain spur projecting to the south and protected on three sides near the breakthrough of the Löbauer Wasser to the west.
Michael Strobel/Annemarie ReckShape and size
The L-shaped section of fortification, which is still preserved up to 10 m high, is rather atypical, which is why it is assumed that it can be supplemented to the north to form an almost ring-shaped enclosure, which originally covered an area of up to 75 x 90 m. The terracing inside the rampart that is visible today was probably only added in the 20th century when it was incorporated into the palace park.
Michael Strobel/Annemarie ReckImage Source J. Deichmüller, Skizze ©LfA 1937.
Modern redesign
The nearby baroque castle was built in 1738 to the north of the old rampart by the von Gersdorff family. During its construction, they also incorporated a 13th to 14th century defense tower located on the eastern side and founded directly on the rock. It probably originally belonged to a high medieval castle complex, which was linked to the Slavic ramparts from the 10th to 12th centuries.
Michael Strobel/Annemarie ReckImage Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2020.
The castle today
The castle, which was rebuilt and renovated after a fire in 1922, is now in exemplary condition. It blends in wonderfully with the surroundings of the nature reserve. However, when several halls and stables for a farm were built to the north in the 1970s and 1980s, just as much consideration was given to the appearance of the church and estate as to the historic park.
Michael Strobel/Annemarie ReckImage Source R. Heynowski, Foto ©LfA 2021.
Literature
Stefan Krabath, Gröditz (Hrodźišćo): Vom slawischen Abschnittswall zum barocken Schloss. In: Regina Smolnik/Jasper von Richthofen (Hrsg.), Die Oberlausitz. Ausflugsziele zwischen Neiße und Pulsnitz. Ausflüge zur Archäologie, Geschichte und Kultur in Deutschland 51 (Stuttgart 2010) 133–134.
Michael Strobel, Wallanlage und Naturschutzgebiet „Gröditzer Skala“. In: Regina Smolnik/Ronny Zienert (Hrsg.), Höhenflüge. Luftbilder und Archäologie in Sachsen (Dresden 2024) 188–189.
Note on monument protection
Archaeological monuments are protected by the Saxon Monument Protection Act. A permit under monument law is required for ground interventions or construction measures.
Permalink
https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/early-medieval-rampart-at-the-groditzer-skala/
Citation
Michael Strobel/Annemarie Reck, Early medieval rampart at the Gröditzer Skala. In: Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen, Website archaeo | SN (31.05.2024). https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/early-medieval-rampart-at-the-groditzer-skala/ (Stand: 29.04.2025)
