Schwedenschanze Observation Tower

The Schwedenschanze is a prehistoric ring wall at 487 m above sea level. NN high elevation on the ridge of the Haßberge near the Burgstall Rottenstein and the Rennweg in Lower Franconia.Source:de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwedenschanze_(Ha%C3%9Fberge)

From Eichelsdorf, a winding road leads up to the parking lot right in front of the mountaintop. The short climb from there cuts through an old prehistoric ring wall, which encloses a square 260 m long and up to 120 m wide. In the access area, defensive walls staggered in height can be clearly seen. The main wall - originally up to two m high on the inside and up to five m high on the outside - is partially accompanied by a ditch. Access to the Schwedenschanze was via two secured gates.The Schwedenschanze is located on Rennweg. This was already integrated into a large network of paths in prehistoric times. Another important route led in a southeasterly direction over this height. Protecting the resulting crossroads was probably one of the tasks of the Schwedenschanze.Source: baysf.de/de/wald-erkunden/ausflugsziel-tipps outlooksturm-schwedenschanze.html

The castle square is protected by steep slopes in the south, north and west. To the east the terrain spur merges into the ridge. In the west, a small, semicircular outer bailey was added to the ramparts. The former gates were probably located in the northwest at the junction of the main and outer bailey walls and in the east.The preserved ramparts are still several meters high and are surrounded by deep outer ditches with low ramparts. The entire complex is around 330 meters long and up to 170 meters wide. Archaeological investigations show that the most recent fortification phase was a two-fronted wall made of wood and earth. This fortification probably replaced two proven older wood-earth-stone walls in the Carolingian-Ottonian period. However, the earliest traces of settlement date back to the Urnfield period, and the area also served as a settlement site during the Hallstatt and early La Tène periods.Source:de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwedenschanze_(Ha%C3%9Fberge)