Kyffhausen Castle and Kyffhäuser Monument

The ruins of the Reichsburg Kyffhausen and the Kyffhäuser Monument sit high up on the Kyffhäuserburgberg. It is not clear when exactly the castle was built, but there are finds that prove that the mountain was already inhabited in the Stone Age. The upper, lower and middle castles probably experienced their heyday in the 12th and 13th centuries, and they still owe their fame today primarily to the Barbarossa legend. He is said to have visited the castle in 1174. After his death, the legend arose among the population that - in short - Barbarossa was trapped in a mountain and was waiting for his return. The return should then bring back the former peace and prosperity of the emperor's reign.

The construction of the Kyffhäuser Monument in the 19th century by the German Emperor Wilhelm I is also connected to this legend. At that time there was a widespread belief that William I had fulfilled the Barbarossa legend by unifying the empire.

You can find all important information about the opening hours of the monument and viewing options for the Reichsburg here: kyffhaeuser-denkmal.de.

The “castle fountain” experience remains in the memory of every visitor to Kyffhäusler. A look over the walled edge of the fountain leaves all visitors in awe. The other end of the fountain is 176 m in the direction of New Zealand, making the fountain on the Kyffhäuser the deepest castle fountain in the world. The depth is roughly three times the height of the monument tower. The well tube has a diameter of just over 2 m. The well is fed by seepage water, so it is not groundwater. The drainage over a crevice keeps the water level constant at 9 m. It is believed that the well was driven into the rock between 1130 and 1170. At that time it served to supply the castle residents with water. Incidentally, a recent analysis confirmed that the sample taken was of the best drinking water quality. Shaft and conveyor technologies are presented in a film and on display boards. A real and a computer-simulated tracking shot down to below the water level to the bottom of the fountain gives all visitors an idea of how difficult and arduous the miners' work was. But secrets are also revealed. What does a canary, for example, have to do with a secret passage? Source: kyffhaeuser-denkmal.de

The old emperor Friedrich Rotbart ("Barbarossa") stands today for unity, prosperity and justice in the realm of the Germans. So today he appears very up to date. Only he himself does not appear - too bad.