On the border of Saxony and Bavaria stand the ruins of Wasserschloss, a water castle over 800 years old. Once completely surrounded by a river, this fortress gradually fell into decay, and today only a single tower remains amid marshes and the former moat.
History of the castle
Wasserschloss Castle is over 800 years old. During this time, it changed hands among various dukes several times. Initially, it was a large fortress with powerful fortifications, surrounded by a river on all sides — hence the name “water castle”.
In the 1880s, the building began to deteriorate. After one of the noble families moved out, only a single tower was reinforced — and it has survived to the present day. The rest of the structure gradually collapsed, and today the site of the former chambers is marshy terrain overgrown with duckweed, where ducks swim.
What remains of the fortress
The surviving tower is now inhabited by a merlin — a type of falcon, for which a special plaque has even been hung on the building. The castle preserves an underground passage that led to a lower exit — boats were once lowered directly onto the water from here. Wooden grilles from that period are still in place, though their exact age remains unknown.
In the chambers where dukes once lived, rooms have been preserved with views of the river from their windows. The part of the structure adjacent to the living quarters is now sealed off and uninhabitable, while nearby modern houses of local residents now stand.
Castles of the region
Within a radius that can be covered by bicycle in two hours from Wasserschloss, there are over 10 castles. This refers to just one separate region of Germany — across the entire country, the number of such objects is significantly larger, making Germany an attractive destination for travel with a focus on medieval architecture.
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