Sparrenburg, Bielefeld

Landmark Name: Benefactor Stone, Windmühlenrondell, Sparrenburg
Type: Castle Monument
Association: Round Table Germany
Table: RT Germany 42 Bielefeld-Sennestadt
Location: Sparrenburg Castle, Bielefeld, Germany (Google Maps🔗)

Sparrenburg Castle

Sparrenburg Castle stands as Bielefeld’s most iconic landmark, a medieval fortress overlooking the city since the 13th century. Its walls, towers, and panoramic ramparts draw thousands of visitors each year and remain a symbol of the region’s heritage.

Round Table 42 Benefactor Stone

To preserve these historic grounds, major restoration and paving works were undertaken in the mid-2000s. Funding for this project was supported through the campaign „Ein Stein für die Burg“, which invited benefactors to sponsor engraved cobblestones used in the castle’s walkways. This initiative lasted between 2005 and 2006.

And that’s where the Round Table 42 landmark enters the story. Among the many engraved Benefactor Stones set into the newly restored pathways, RTDE42’s benefactor stone stands as a subtle but meaningful tribute to the club’s support for the castle’s preservation. There is, of course, no dedicated Round Table rondel at Sparrenburg, yet the pavers are installed in the roundels of the castle. Still, the RTDE42 stone has found its place within the fabric of the fortress itself, embedded in the paved surfaces of the Windmühlenrondell and Kiekstattrondell. Here, alongside hundreds of other engraved cobblestones, it forms part of a collective memorial to benefactors whose contributions helped safeguard and rejuvenate this historic landmark.

Windmühlenrondell (the West-Most Bastion)

The Windmühlenrondell is the large round bastion located on the north-western / western edge of Sparrenburg Castle. It originated in the early 16th century when the fortress was modernised to withstand artillery warfare. What began as a free-standing artillery tower around 1530–1540 was later integrated into the main fortifications, forming the broad defensive platform still visible today.

Because of its position on the west side, the bastion had a crucial strategic role: it covered the castle’s most exposed flank and provided a wide firing arc over the slopes leading up toward the ridge. Its elevated platform was ideal for cannons, while the thick masonry protected the garrison from incoming fire.

During the 2005–2006 restoration works, parts of the Windmühlenrondell were repaved as part of the “Ein Stein für die Burg” campaign. Many of the engraved benefactor stones, including the Round Table 42 stone, were set into the surfaces of this rondel and its adjoining pathways, becoming a permanent part of the castle’s outer defenses and modern visitor route.