Gleichen Castle

Drei Gleichen, Germany, Germany

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Gleichen Castle forms part of the famous "Drei Gleichen" trio of hilltop ruins near Drei Gleichen municipality in Thuringia, Germany, alongside Altengleichen and Neuengleichen, built around 1100 by the Counts of Reinhausen who shifted their seat there after founding a monastery. First

mentioned in 1034 as "Gliche" from Celtic roots meaning "rock," it served as a strategic trade route fortress under the Counts of Weimar-Orlamünde, changing hands through families like von Gleichen-Tonna—who collected tolls and faced sieges, including destruction in 1178—and later Lords of Uslar by 1270, who split it into Alt- and Neuengleichen lines.

Never captured in feuds, the Gleichen castles were abandoned by the 16th century as owners moved to nearby farms, leaving visible ruins—especially at Altengleichen—with a museum today sharing local history, legends like the two-wived count, and hiking trails linking the sites.