Amöneburg and Its Historic Sites
As the center of the Amöneburg Basin, which is named after it, the „city on the mountain,“ situated at an elevation of 365 meters, is a popular excursion destination offering magnificent panoramic views. Amöneburg’s history stretches back thousands of years.
The first traces of settlement date back to the 6th millennium BC. Later, in the 3rd century BC, the Celts fortified the hill by the „Amana“ (now called the Ohm River) into a stronghold known as „Amanaburg.“ The first documented mention of Amöneburg dates back to the year 721, when Boniface began his missionary work from the Frankish stronghold „Amanaburch“ and founded a monastery here. In the early 12th century, „Ameneburg“ and other surrounding settlements came under the control of the Archbishops of Mainz, who expanded the mountain town into a significant fortress.
Despite wartime destruction in the following centuries, important historical remnants have been preserved. Many have been excavated and reconstructed, including parts of the castle ruins and the Wenigenburg.
One of the most striking features is the scenic charm of the second-oldest nature reserve in Hesse, which surrounds the mountain massif and features a marked nature trail. A museum and a nature conservation information center provide in-depth insights into the region’s history and landscape.
Besides the mountain town itself, visiting its surrounding districts is also worthwhile. Erfurtshausen, for instance, serves as a starting point for extensive hikes into the nearby forested areas, while Mardorf, once fortified with walls and a moat, boasts a highly visible defensive tower. The Baroque churches in Rüdigheim and Rossdorf, the latter adorned with remarkable stucco decorations, are also well worth seeing. Finally, the numerous half-timbered houses in all parts of the town are particularly noteworthy.
Archaeological finds confirm that the area was already inhabited in the Neolithic period. During the Celtic era, a city-like settlement (oppidum) is believed to have existed. In 721, Boniface established a small monastery and a new church at the foot of Amöneburg Castle.
South of Amöneburg lies the ruin of Wenigenburg, dating back to the 12th century. From the mid-12th century onward, large parts of Hesse became part of the Landgraviate of Thuringia and, after 1247, the Landgraviate of Hesse. Both of these territories vied for dominance in central and northern Hesse against the Archbishopric of Mainz until the early 15th century. Even after the Landgraves finally emerged victorious in 1427, Kurmainz retained some enclaves within Hessian territory, including the Amt Amöneburg.
During the Thirty Years’ War, Amöneburg and its castle changed hands multiple times. In 1621, General Christian of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel captured the town and fortress. In the years that followed, the fortifications were restored, and extensive earthworks were constructed. The fortress is still visible in Matthäus Merian’s copper engraving from 1640. On November 6, 1640, imperial troops took the town, only for Hessian and Swedish forces under General Carl Gustav Wrangel to recapture it on June 25, 1646.
At the „Brücker Mill“ stands the stone Ohm Bridge, an important historic road crossing. It gained notoriety due to the battle between Hessian, Hanoverian, and Brunswick troops against the French during the Seven Years’ War. The 14-hour-long battle on September 21, 1762, resulted in 527 deaths and 1,363 wounded on both sides but had no clear winner. A few weeks later, a ceasefire was signed.
As a result of the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803, Amöneburg, along with other former Mainz enclaves such as Fritzlar, Naumburg, and Neustadt, was incorporated into the so-called Principality of Fritzlar and annexed by the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel. With the annexation of Hesse-Kassel by Prussia in 1866, Amöneburg became part of Prussia.