Gelsterburg

Großalmerode, Germany, Germany

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Gelsterburg is a vanished spur castle ruin near Weißenbach, a district of Großalmerode in Hesse, Germany, perched on a 380-meter hilltop spur overlooking the Gelster Valley.

Likely constructed in the late 11th century by the Counts of Bilstein to safeguard a vital salt trade route, it features remnants of a neck ditch, an outer wall ditch, a 10x12-meter outer bailey, and a larger 18x30-meter main bailey with traces of a ring wall and small tower foundation, all separated by section ditches for defense.

First hinted at in 1265 records via knight Walter von Hundelshausen, the site declined after Hessian control around 1300 and now draws hikers along the historic "Eselspfad" path amid scenic northern Hessian terrain.