Bieberstein Castle is located on the left bank of the river Bobritzsch in Bieberstein, part of Reinsberg municipality. A nobleman Günther von Bieberstein who named himself after the castle was first mentioned in a document of 1218.
A bergfried with square footprint reminds of the medieval castle which was later transformed into an early modern castle. The latter was joined to the medieval bergfried into a contiguous building around 1600. Originally, the castle consisted of two parts called Ober- and Niederbieberstein. It was successively acquired by various members of the family von Schönberg. After 1650 parts of the lower castle were dismantled. Gotthelf Friedrich von Schönberg (1631–1708), counsellor of the Saxon prince-elector, bought the castle in 1656, had most of its upper part pulled down to the foundation walls in 1666 and had it rebuilt into its present-day shape. The outside staircase on the western side and the interior stairway with four flights were built between 1710 and 1720.
Bieberstein castle served as a youth hostel until 1992. It was acquired by Maritta Rogalla von Bieberstein Koch-Weser (possibly not directly related to the original Bieberstein family), wife of Caio Koch-Weser, and is now used as a conference centre.
References:The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.