Alte Burg Ruins in Bettenburg Landscape Park

At this point stands the old castle ruin, which is located in the Bettenburg landscape park. From 1790 the then owner of Bettenburg Castle Christian Dietrich Truchseß von Wetzhausen (1755-1826) established the famous “Bettenburger Tafelrunde”, the Jean-Paul, Gustav Schwab, Friedrich Schelling, Ludwig Spohr, Heinrich Voss, in the course of the then enthusiasm for the Middle Ages and Friedrich Rückert belonged. The historical park opposite the castle served as a stimulus, with an artificial castle ruin and several monuments to commemorate famous knights such as Götz von Berlichingen or Ulrich von Hutten, as well as a “Minnesängerplatz”.

Memories of bygone times - the artificial ruins of the medieval style have always been part of the compulsory program of the English landscape garden. First and foremost, it fulfills the function of being a trigger for emotions: it is intended to remind of past, supposedly better times and to evoke a feeling of regret and melancholy. In this specific case, it is assumed that the outer bailey gate of the old Bettenenburg was moved here and rebuilt, especially since there is no Bettenburg. The Altenburg was deliberately built within sight of the Bettenenburg in order to emphasize the contrast between the supposedly old and the new. This visual contrast can still be seen today in late autumn and winter (Information Hassberge Tourismus)

The old castle is an artificial ruin in the Bettenburg landscape park.