Imagine echoes from centuries past as we stand before the Slawische Wallanlage. This earthwork is not just a relic but a testament to the people who once called this land home. This place echoes with stories of West Slavic tribes. They migrated here from areas now known as Poland the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
These West Slavic groups arrived around the 6th century. They built settlements and defensive structures. By the 7th century their territory stretched to the Elbe and Saale rivers. From these settlers emerged distinct tribal alliances.
Among these were the Besunzane. Their settlement area is thought to be in the Neisse valley or the Elbe valley basin. The Landeskrone near Görlitz is said to have been one of their strongholds. Another significant group was the Milzeni. They settled the area of Upper Lusatia. This area centered around Bautzen. About thirty fortresses are attributed to them. The Sorbs in Lusatia today are considered their descendants.
The construction of these Slavic fortresses began in the 8th century. Across Germany there may have been around 700 of these strongholds. The Slavs typically chose lowlands or elevated locations for their forts. These sites offered natural defenses and were difficult to access.
Slavic fortresses were usually circular or oval. Builders used wood earth loam and fieldstones. The basic structure consisted of a wooden framework several meters high. This frame was then filled with stones rubble and earth.
The earth was dug directly in front of the wall. This created the ditches characteristic of these sites. If the fort was in a lowland area the ditches were often filled with water later. Wooden bridges crossed these moats. Shrubs and hedges were planted in front of the moats. These offered further protection against attackers.
Palisades and partially roofed battlements topped the walls. Gates were built into the structure or through the wall as tunnels. Inside the fortress dwellings lined the inner wall. This offered a crucial advantage. Enemy projectiles would mostly hit the empty center reducing damage. Many Slavic fortresses had outer baileys. Craftsmen and guards were housed there. These outer baileys were less elaborate. They disappeared almost entirely in the 10th century.
The Slavs in the Saxon region did not build stone fortresses. So their former fortifications can be hard to spot today. The walls are often wooded. Over the centuries they have become very flattened. Ditches are dry. Island forts are inconspicuous. Only a trained eye can recognize the mounds. Agriculture has also obscured many of these sites. Today most of these sites are protected as historical monuments.
There are a few reconstructions of these fortresses in Germany. Unfortunately there is no open-air museum of this type in Saxony. The Slawische Wallanlage is a reminder of a vibrant culture. It shaped this region centuries ago. As you explore consider the ingenuity and resilience of the early Slavic people.