A burgstall is a German term used to describe a castle site where so little of the original structure remains that its appearance cannot be effectively reconstructed. While there is no direct equivalent in English, the term can be loosely translated as "castle site." Various linguistic variations exist in literature, including Burgstelle, Altburgstelle, die Burgställe (plural), Burgstähl (archaic), or abgegangene Burg.
In the field of German castle studies, a burgstall is distinguished from a ruin by its level of preservation. While a ruin (Ruine) still contains recognizable remnants of the original construction above ground level, a burgstall refers to a castle that has been effectively leveled. This distinction highlights the difference between a site where structural remains are visible and one where only the location of the former fortification is identifiable.