Turmhügelburg Lütjenburg

About the museum

In the High Middle Ages, Saxon knights settled Wagria in eastern Holstein, previously shaped by Slavic culture, and secured their estates with small castles on artificially piled-up mounds; in the Plön district alone, more than 40 such motte castles have been documented. Since 2003, the reconstruction of such a complex has been taking shape in the Nienthal near Lütjenburg as an experimental archaeology project, in close cooperation with the Archäologisches Landesamt Schleswig-Holstein (state archaeological office). It is run by the Gesellschaft der Freunde der mittelalterlichen Burg in Lütjenburg (society of friends of the medieval castle).

Models were mainly excavation findings from the Kleiner and Großer Schlichtenberg, as well as the depiction of a motte on the Bayeux Tapestry, the bell tower of Norderbrarup, the Templar House in Amorbach and a watercolor by Albrecht Dürer. During construction, the tower was first placed on part of the mound and then "motted in," that is, banked up with the remaining excavated soil from the ring ditch. The nearly 14-meter-high oak tower stands on a three-meter-high mound, surrounded by a moat with a wooden bridge.

In the bailey, a residential and stable building, a large farm building, the knight's half-timbered house with hypocaust heating, a chapel, granaries, a bakehouse, a smithy and a draw well were gradually built. The buildings are in use: medieval groups bring the castle to life in historic clothing, mainly in summer, along with guided tours, markets, lectures and open-air church services.

Highlights

• Nearly 14-meter-high oak defense tower on the castle mound
• Moat with wooden bridge to the motte
• The knight's house with hypocaust heating
• Chapel modeled on the half-timbered church of Fuhlenhagen
• Smithy, bakehouse and draw well in the bailey
• Castle living history by medieval groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Burganlage mit Motte und Vorburg – Walk-through reconstruction of a Holstein motte castle of the 12th/13th century with defense tower, knight's house, chapel and farm buildings in which medieval crafts and everyday life are shown.

Operated by

Gesellschaft der Freunde der mittelalterlichen Burg in Lütjenburg e. V.

Director

Lorenz Luick

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the grounds is free; the association asks for a donation at the castle entrance. Castle tours are paid and cash only; donation receipt on request.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Nienthal 10, 24321 Lütjenburg. The Eiszeitmuseum (Ice Age Museum) is right next door.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit