Archäologie- und Landschaftspark Kaiserpfalz Werla

The concept of the park was developed and is being further developed by a steering group in which the municipality of Schladen-Werla, the sponsoring association, FEMO, the institutional sponsors and the NLD Bezirksarchäologie Braunschweig are represented. The extensive areas belong to the state of Lower Saxony, the municipality of Schladen-Werla and the district of Wolfenbüttel and are looked after and maintained by FEMO. The spokesman of the steering group is currently the mayor of Schladen-Werla, Andreas Memmert. The chairman of the association is currently Frank Oesterhelweg MdL. The work is accompanied by a scientific advisory board consisting of Prof. Dr. M. Springer (Magdeburg), Dr. C. Ehlers (Frankfurt a. M.), Prof. Dr. G. Biegel (Braunschweig), Dr. M. Blaich (Hildesheim) and Dr. M. Geschwinde (Braunschweig).

Numerous sponsors were involved in the development of the park: The accompanying scientific investigations were financed by the Braunschweig Cultural Heritage Foundation, the conservation of the uncovered walls and the excavations by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, the reconstruction of the west gate by the Mast-Jägermeister Foundation and the V+R Foundation, and the reconstructed building ground plans made of steel plates by Salzgitter AG, to name but a few.

The main structures of the palace are traced in the archaeological park at the authentic site. The ditches and ramparts of the core castle and the inner outer bailey 2 have been recreated on a greatly reduced scale based on the excavation results. The modern rampart and ditch cover around 30% of the volume of their 10th century predecessors. Archaeological windows provide a view of the central tract in the core castle, tower 4 of the core castle, gate 1 of the core castle and the wall of inner bailey 1 from the early 10th century. Gate 2 (the west gate) of the core castle with the adjoining walls has been reconstructed as a 1:1 model on the authentic site.

Parts of the course of the wall of the inner outer bailey 1 and the hillside wall of the core castle are reproduced by modern dry stone walls. On the site of the stone building on the Kapellenberg, there is a wooden viewing platform from which an impressive panorama of Werla opens up.

In the crisis-ridden 10th century, the royal palace of Werla played a central role in the establishment of Ottonian kingship. It then lost its importance. From 1200, Werla was used as a quarry until the last building disappeared. Archaeological excavations have been able to prove the impressive dimensions of the palace on the basis of the preserved foundation remains. The relics visible again in the "Werla Imperial Palace Archaeological Park" are visual aids to help you visualize the dimensions and splendour of the complex in the 10th century. The real images must arise anew in the mind of each visitor...

Author: Dr. Michael Geschwinde