Location on the Unstrut
Karsdorf is a municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district in Saxony-Anhalt and lies in the region Saale-Unstrut on the Unstrut, between Nebra and Burgscheidungen. The settlement is situated on the left bank of the river, while Wetzendorf and Wennungen are on the opposite right bank.
Landscape and history
The Hohe Gräte is a spur-like elevation at the crossing of the Unstrut near Karsdorf. A castle was built there to protect the crossing. To the south-east of the town, the Muschelkalk slope of the Unstrut valley at the edge of the Querfurt plateau shapes the landscape. On the upper slope stands Lower Muschelkalk, while the lower slope contains gypsum-bearing siltstones of the Upper Buntsandstein.
Karsdorf developed at a historic ford over the Unstrut. This was part of the old copper road, which connected the Mansfelder mining area with routes in the direction of southern Germany. According to the municipal history, viticulture was already established under the Franks and has been documented in writing since the 12th century.
Vineyard site Hohe Gräte
The documented vineyard area on the Hohe Gräte was created on a reclaimed former quarry. The soil was built up with newly placed limestone, gypsum-bearing Keuper, and red and green clays.
The official list of vineyard sites for the Saale-Unstrut quality wine-growing region lists the Karsdorf Hohe Gräte in the area of Schloss Neuenburg as a single vineyard site. As of 31 December 2024, 20.0330 hectares there were planted with vines; the site comprises the cadastral districts of Steigra, Karsdorf and Wennungen.
