Wiprechtsburg Castle
| Place: | Groitzsch (Groitzsch, Leipzig) |
|---|---|
| Type: | Weirs/fortifications |
| Dating: | Early Middle Ages | High Middle Ages | Late Middle Ages | 900 - 1294 AD. |
Description
Wiprechtsburg Castle near Groitzsch is an imposing castle complex that was an economic and political center of supra-regional importance and served as a representative seat of power. The main area covers an area of 8000 m2 and was surrounded by a wall, which was built in an elaborate box construction. The outer bailey, which was probably used for commercial purposes, was about three times as large. The castle complex can be traced back to the beginning of the 10th century. century until the late 13th century. Historical sources mention the destruction of the castle in 1294.
Linda SeifertTopography
Wiprechtsburg Castle is located on the edge of today's small town of Groitzsch and was strategically built on a natural spur. This falls steeply to the west towards the banks of the Schwennigke river, which winds around the spur in a southerly, westerly and northerly direction. The Weiße Elster flows only about 900 m west of the site, while the Schnauder can be found not far to the north and east. To the east, however, the castle area was secured by a high rampart. The adjoining outer bailey to the east was also surrounded by a fortification, which is only partially preserved today.
Linda SeifertImage Source O. Braasch, Foto ©LfA 1992.
Research history
Wiprechtsburg Castle has always aroused people's interest. As early as 1743, the lord of Groitzsch, Baron von Schwedendorf, made his first explorations of the site. In 1848, circular wall structures were discovered during the digging of foundation trenches, which were later identified as the remains of a Romanesque circular chapel. Comprehensive investigations of the castle complex in accordance with scientific standards were first carried out during the excavation from 1959 to 1967/68 under the direction of Heinz-Joachim Vogt, the archaeologist and later director of the Dresden State Museum of Prehistory. The building fabric was examined by the art historian and archaeologist Herbert Küas. A further, smaller-scale investigation was carried out in 1998 during the course of renovation work on the site. The site was monographically presented in 1987 by Vogt, whose work is still important today for the typochronological classification of high medieval pottery in the southern Leipzig area.
Linda SeifertImage Source OA 18670/468, Zeichnung ©LfA 1959.
Development of the castle complex
There were a total of five medieval construction and settlement phases, with the various reconstruction measures mostly overriding the older findings. In the 10th/11th century, there is evidence of a castle with a gate tower on the north side, which was probably destroyed and rebuilt as a result of banditry (phases I and II). Phase III, in which the castle area was significantly remodeled, is particularly noteworthy. The fortifications of the castle and the outer bailey were greatly extended, which significantly reduced the inner area. In addition, several stone buildings were erected, a Romanesque round tower and a round chapel in the castle area and St. Mary's Church in the outer bailey. This phase began around the last quarter of the 11th century, while the end is probably linked to a historically recorded destruction around 1115. The castle walls of phase IV were built around 2.5-3.5 m higher, whereby the area around the Romanesque stone buildings was cut out. The first brick buildings were also erected. According to Vogt, the transition between phases IV and V took place in the first half of the 13th century. In the last phase V, the earlier buildings were filled in and the area was raised by 3-4 m throughout in order to erect (brick) buildings on a uniform level. After 1290, the castle was finally destroyed and abandoned.
Linda SeifertImage Source H.-J. Vogt 1987, 152-153; L. Seifert, Bearbeitung ©LfA 2024.
Wiprecht of Groitzsch
Wiprecht von Groitzsch can be considered an outstanding personality of his time. His life is described by various chroniclers of Pegau Monastery. In 1070, he was granted Groitzsch Castle, which soon led to disputes with the local nobility. Wiprecht was a follower of King Henry IV and was involved in the battle against the Saxon princes and Pope Gregory VI. Although he was involved in numerous feuds, he continued to expand his territory. As penance for the burning down of St. Jacob's Church in Zeitz, he founded Pegau Monastery in 1091, which was later to become the family burial place. In the early 12th century, new conflicts arose, which ended in 1115 with the siege and destruction of Groitzsch Castle. Wiprecht lost his property and was sentenced to death, but was later pardoned by Henry V. He was rehabilitated in 1117 and also received the margraviate of Meissen and Lower Lusatia. Wiprecht von Groitzsch died in 1124 as a monk in Pegau Monastery. His cenotaph can be found in St. Laurentius Church in Pegau.
Linda SeifertImage Source L. Farkas, Foto ©LfA 2014.
Settlement history
The archaeological investigations showed that the site had already been inhabited in earlier periods. In addition to a prehistoric cultural layer, some older pit and post features were documented during the excavations in the 1960s (photo). However, as only small areas were investigated, no conclusions can be drawn about the prehistoric settlement structure. Vogt merely states that the prehistoric settlement probably extended evenly over the castle and outer bailey area. The finds allow a classification into Neolithic and Late Bronze Age to Iron Age periods.
Linda SeifertImage Source H.-J. Vogt 1987, 234.
Literature
Peter Degenkolb, Wiprecht von Groitzsch. In: Sabine Wolfram (Hrsg.), In die Tiefe der Zeit – 300.000 Jahre Menschheitsgeschichte in Sachsen. Das Buch zur Dauerausstellung (Dresden 2014) 184–188.
Herbert Küas, Steinbauten der Wiprechtsburg bei Groitzsch, Kreis Borna, seit dem Ende des 11. Jahrhunderts. Arbeits- und Forschungsberichte zur sächsischen Bodendenkmalpflege 23, 1979, 107–146.
Heinz-Joachim Vogt, Die Wiprechtsburg Groitzsch. Eine mittelalterliche Befestigung in Westsachsen. Veröffentlichungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Dresden 18 (Berlin 1987).
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/wiprechtsburg-castle/
Citation
Linda Seifert, Wiprechtsburg Castle. In: Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen, Website archaeo | SN (09.08.2024). https://archaeo-sn.de/en/ort/wiprechtsburg-castle/ (Stand: 20.05.2025)
