Archaeological excavations are underway at Schloss Neuenburg, close to Freyburg (Burgenlandkreis), one of the most significant cultural monuments in Saxony-Anhalt. The investigations, led by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) in close cooperation with the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt, are part of initial work on significant restoration and development projects.

View across the excavation area with exposed remains of medieval building structures in the former “long barn.” Credit: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Holger Grönwald.

The castle, founded around 1090 by Count Ludwig der Springer, has a remarkably large and complex medieval fortification history. Earlier discoveries had already documented parts of rare, octagonal towers and fortification walls. The ongoing excavations focus on the area below the mᴀssive tower “Dicker Wilhelm,” where researchers are discovering well-preserved remains of dense medieval construction.

So far, the team has discovered the remains of a large residential building with a vaulted cellar and traces of a heating system, including pieces from a tiled stove. These findings indicate a high-quality dwelling, comparable in comfort to the palas of the castle, which had a warm-air system by at least 1180. The building overlies earlier occupation layers, leaving open the possibility that its construction dates as far back as the late 11th or early 12th century. Scientific analysis will determine whether the discoveries belong to Neuenburg’s early building phase or a bit later.

Drone pH๏τograph: overhead view of the former “long barn” with exposed medieval building structures. Credit: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Matthias Zirm.

Excavations have also shed light on the defensive structures of the castle. The evidence indicates that there was an outer ditch that extended farther north than previously believed, and possibly divided the rock spur, creating an isolated, defensible space around “Dicker Wilhelm.” In conjunction with remnants of ruined fortifications and a rectangular tower unearthed in previous campaigns, these features refine our understanding of the complex layout and defensive strategies of the castle.

Graceful and dynamic: a 14th-century toy horse as a typical find from a castle context. Credit: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Holger Grönwald.

The subsequent 17th-to-20th-century occupation of the site as an agricultural estate covered much of these medieval remains under leveling layers and farm buildings. However, ongoing excavation is revealing a rich sequence of construction phases across several centuries. Among the highlighted findings are a 14th-century ceramic toy horse, glᴀss fragments, and part of a bone-handled utensil, all pointing to an upper-class lifestyle and refined domestic culture within the castle.

The recent discoveries are key to understanding the development, social role, and architectural sophistication of Schloss Neuenburg during the medieval period. As excavation continues, archaeologists look forward to discovering more about the building phases and uses of this section of the castle.

Excavations on the outer bailey will continue into 2026. To present the latest discoveries to the public, tours of the site will be offered as part of the nation’s “Tag des offenen Denkmals” on September 14, 2025.

More information: State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt