The Upper and Lower Sachsenburg have a long history. Saxons or Franks settled here as early as the 6th century, and their first fortifications continued to grow over the following centuries. The two castle complexes, which were probably connected by underground passages, are located directly above the Unstrut, at the Thuringian Gate between the Hainleite and Schmücke mountain ranges. In the Middle Ages, an important trade route ran through here, transporting precious raw materials such as salt, copper and silver to the Harz mountains and south. The Saxon castles were not only home to ever-changing count families, but also to appointed bailiffs and their castle men. The office of Sachsenburg with its seven villages and surrounding estates was administered from here and the bridge toll for customs and escort was collected. The freely accessible ruins of the two castle complexes are still worth seeing today - the lower castle with its striking 22-metre-high keep, vaults and defensive walls and the upper castle with the remains of the palace and keep. There are also sweeping views of the valley, the 500-metre-wide Thuringian Gate and the Unstrut river with its impressive arched bridge. The Sachsenburgenverein has been committed to preserving the castle complex for many years. It is possible to drive along the forest path up to approx. 200 m to Lower Sachsenburg Castle. The Upper Sachsenburg can only be reached on foot from the Lower Castle (via an approximately 500 m long, sometimes arduous ascent) or from Oldisleben (approximately 2000 m).