Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
4 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Germany Detmold Falkenburg

Falkenburg

The ruins of a medieval castle that survived two sieges.

Detmold, Germany

Added By
soerendietz01
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Falkenburg   soerendietz01 / Atlas Obscura User
Falkenburg   soerendietz01 / Atlas Obscura User
Falkenburg   soerendietz01 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In 1194 or 1195, the Falkenburg near Detmold-Berlebeck was built by Bernhard II zur Lippe and his son Hermann II. The zur Lippe family came from today's Lippstadt. With the Falkenburg and the old town in Lemgo, the two noble lords founded their first bases northeast of the Teutoburg Forest. They laid the foundation for the rule of this noble family in today's district of Lippe, which is named after them.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Falkenburg Castle remained a center of Lippe's sovereignty. It was unsuccessfully besieged in two major feuds of the 15th century, the Everstein Feud (1404-1409) and the Soest Feud (1444-1449). In 1453, however, there was a fire that damaged parts of the complex. Restored, the Falkenburg was inhabited until 1523.

For a long time, it was left to decay and was once used as a quarry for the construction of roads and houses. But since 2004, the still impressive remains of the castle have been uncovered and secured. The ruins now offer a unique impression of a medieval hilltop castle with a ring wall, keep, palace, outer bailey, and kennel

Related Tags

History & Culture Architecture Castles Ruins

Know Before You Go

The castle is accessible only by a short hike and accordingly not barrier-free. Many different guided tours are offered.

Community Contributors

Added By

soerendietz01

Published

October 12, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.falkenburg-lippe.de/gallery-1
Falkenburg
Detmold, 32760
Germany
Visit Website

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Detmold

Detmold

Germany

Places 2

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Detmold

Detmold

Germany

Places 2

Related Places

  • Crawford Castle

    Crawford, Scotland

    Crawford Castle

    These crumbling ruins are all that's left of the ancestral home of Clan Crawford.

  • Looking down to where the central round keep would have been

    Eglinton, Scotland

    Eglinton Castle

    The ruins of a once-grand castle that played host to a tournament with 100,000 attendees.

  • Castle on the hill.

    Denbighshire, Wales

    Castell Dinas Bran

    These precariously placed ruins harken back to a 13th-century castle.

  • Castle Lug

    Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland

    Castle Lug

    This castle once belonged to one of the most prominent families of medieval Carrickfergus.

  • Chichester Castle Tower

    Whitehead, Northern Ireland

    Castle Chichester Tower

    This tower once belonged to a castle fit for a knight.

  • Rocca di Pierle

    Cortona, Italy

    Rocca di Pierle

    The eerie ruins of this feudal fortress witnessed the execution of 60 conspirators in 1387.

  • Tintagel Castle

    Tintagel, England

    Tintagel Castle

    A fantastic castle rumored to be the birthplace of King Arthur.

  • Castillo de Gillow.

    San Lucas el Grande, Mexico

    Ex-Hacienda de Chautla

    A historic Puebla estate featuring a striking castle.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.