Royal palace of Werla

Royal palace of Werla
near Werlaburgdorf, Schladen-Werla in Wolfenbüttel
West tower of the palace complex as reconstructed in 2012
Coordinates	52°02′16″N 10°33′17″E / 52.037683°N 10.554771°E / 52.037683; 10.554771
Type	Königspfalz
Area	c. 20 ha (49 acres)
Height	110 m (360 ft)
Site information
Condition	Foundation walls visible, reconstructed earthworks and walls
Site history
Built	9th century
Garrison information
Occupants	King of the Romans / Holy Roman Emperor

The Royal Palace of Werla (German: Königspfalz Werla) is located near Werlaburgdorf (municipality: Schladen-Werla) in Lower Saxony. The grounds of the royal palace cover about 20 hectares rising atop Kreuzberg hill, a 17 m high natural plateau overlooking the Oker river. In the Early Middle Ages the palace was an important place in the Holy Roman Empire, serving as an important base for the Ottonians in the 10th century in particular. Although it subsequently lost its political significance to the newly established Imperial Palace of Goslar at Rammelsberg, it developed into an independent settlement with a busy industrial quarter. In the 14th century it fell into ruin and was completely unknown until its rediscovery in the 18th century. The core fortress in particular was thoroughly excavated in the 20th century. Excavations carried out since 2007 have brought new understanding to the hitherto largely unexplored outworks. Since 2010 the palace complex with foundation and enceinte, as well as earthworks, has been partially reconstructed and is now open to the public as the Archäologie- und Landschaftspark Kaiserpfalz Werla (Archaeological and Wilderness Park of the Imperial Palace of Werla).