Gleichen Castle

Gleichen Castle was first documented in 1034 as “Gliche” in the annals of Reinhardsbrunn Monastery. As early as the 8th century, a complex believed to date back to the Frankish conquest is said to have existed here. In the late 11th century, the castle was the scene of a siege during the Saxon War, where Margrave Ekbert II of Meissen had entrenched himself. Around 1100, the castle came into the possession of Heinrich II of Laach, the first Count Palatine of the Rhine. Between 1134 and 1137, it was donated to the Archbishopric of Mainz. In 1162, the Counts of Tonna received the castle as a fief and from then on called themselves Counts of Gleichen. A feud with the Thuringian Landgraves led to the castle's destruction in 1178. A major fire, triggered by a lightning strike, occurred in 1231. In the 16th century, during the Peasants' Wars and the Reformation, the castle lost its importance as a residence and was used as an administrative seat and prison. Count Philipp Ernst von Gleichen had a Renaissance castle built in the western part of the castle in 1588, but by 1599, the main residence of the counts was moved to Ohrdruf. In 1631, the lineage of the Counts of Gleichen died out. The castle reverted to the Archbishopric of Mainz and was enfeoffed to the Counts of Hatzfeld in 1651, but continued to fall into disrepair.

The Gleichen Castle Ruin is located in the municipality of Drei Gleichen, in the district of Wandersleben, Gotha, Thuringia, Germany. It stands at an elevation of approximately 361 meters above sea level.

Today, the Gleichen Castle Ruin is accessible to visitors and can be explored. It is owned by the Thuringian Palaces and Gardens Foundation.

• Mühlburg Castle Ruin, approx. 1.4 km away
• Veste Wachsenburg (Castle), approx. 3.6 km away
• Special construction project “S III” (Military buildings), approx. 7.5 km away
• Ingersleben Manor (Manor house), approx. 8.2 km away