The archaeological exploration of the Schlossfelsen began in the 1930s and was continued at irregular intervals. It has brought the history of the Schlossfelsen closer to us all. However, the uninterrupted use of these sites has rendered it impossible to investigate the whole area. All the excavations were carried out in parallel with major building operations and conceived as rescue excavations: they were performed under cramped conditions and often under great pressure of time. In some cases they were unmethodical, and neither the way they were carried out nor the way they were documented were enough to satisfy stringent scientific demands. Yet they have at least provided us with some notion of what the castle complex was like.

We will be concentrating here on the excavations of the 1930s, 60s, 80s and 2000s, though there was also excavation done in 1953/54 and 1976. During the digging of the building pit for what is now the adult education centre (VHS) in 1953/54, some mediaeval masonry and some fortifications with massive quadrangular towers were discovered. Those finds revealed the great similarity between the fortress and the ground plan of the renaissance residence: and thus it became clear that older components and foundations were reused in the construction of the latter.

In 1976, parts of the foundation wall of the renaissance residence were found during redevelopment measures on the basement wall of the baroque castle.

Discover the history of the Schlossfelsen with us.