Ulferts Börg

Ulferts Börg is a high medieval castle in Upgant-Schott, part of the Samtgemeinde Brookmerland, in the district of Aurich in Lower Saxony. It is considered one of the oldest stone houses in East Frisia.
In historical Brookmerland, there are hardly any medieval castles. The reason for this can be found in the Brokmer Willküren, which stipulated that no Frisian was allowed to build a stone house taller than 12 meters and that an enclosing moat had to be constructed. Only after this legal code lost its significance did local chieftain families begin to build multi-story residential towers made of brick. The oldest parts of Ulferts Börg were built around 1430. These include the approximately 15-meter-wide front house, whose outer walls are between 0.55 and 0.72 meters thick. A bricked-up arrow slit in the west gable still testifies to its original function as a defensive structure. After the rise of the Cirksena, the local nobility in East Frisia became increasingly insignificant and eventually merged with the wealthy peasant class. Over time, the castle was adapted to the new needs. Around 1700, an economic wing was added to the stone house in the Gulfhof construction style.

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