Envision 1234. Reinhard III von Dorfelden and his brother Heinrich are dividing their inheritance. This moment marks the first documented mention of Burg Dorfelden.
Welcome to Burg Dorfelden. It is a ruined water castle in Niederdorfelden. The Burg Dorfelden resides near Hanau in Hesse’s Main-Kinzig-Kreis district. The castle’s story is interwoven with noble families. It involves strategic importance during imperial elections.
Burg Dorfelden sits on an artificial hill. The Nidder River embraces it. The river feeds the moat surrounding the castle. This moat provided formidable defense. Walk along the field paths north of Niederdorfelden’s old center to reach the ruins.
The lords of Dorfelden were successors to the Buchen family. The Buchen family had a documented presence in this area. They likely owned Wachenbuchen Castle nearby. Reinhard I of Hanau descended from Reinhard III’s successors. He became the Hanau family’s patriarch. Later, they became counts.
Over time, Burg Dorfelden was pledged to various parties. The Falkensteiners, Weinsbergers, and Rieneckers held it. In 1266, the Falkensteiners gave their half of the castle to Fulda Abbey as a fief. Ulrich I of Hanau bought Burg Dorfelden back in 1288.
In 1333, Ulrich II of Hanau entrusted Burg Dorfelden to Duke Rudolf of Saxony as a fief. Saxony wanted a stronghold on the route to Frankfurt. Frankfurt was the site for electing and crowning Holy Roman Emperors. This secured their journey to and from Frankfurt. Ulrich IV of Hanau sold Babenhausen Castle to Bohemia for similar reasons in 1372. It was then given back to him as a fief.
Burg Dorfelden lost importance over the centuries. Its functions shifted to the nearby Junkerhof. Eventually, Burg Dorfelden was merely called its “accessory”. It became a quarry. The structure decayed. In the late 20th century, efforts began to stabilize what remained. These efforts aimed to prevent the final walls from collapsing.
Today, you can still see parts of the Burg Dorfelden ring wall. They stand to the north and northwest. Building remains are visible on the north wall’s inner side. A round tower with rusticated stonework also stands. These stones likely date back to the second half of the 12th century. The remains of another round tower lie collapsed at the hill’s base. The Nidder River feeds the Burg Dorfelden’s circular moat.
Imagine knights and nobles once traversing these grounds. Think of the strategic importance Burg Dorfelden held. Its walls whisper tales of power shifts, family lineages, and imperial ambitions. The echoes of the past resonate. They remind us of Burg Dorfelden’s enduring place in history.