Altenburg (Bamberg)
Encyclopedia
The Altenburg is a castle
that sits on the tallest of the seven hills of Bamberg
, southern Germany
, overlooking the city. It is located in Upper Franconia
, a region in the state of Bavaria
, and dates back to 1109.
castle.
It first served as what is known is German as a "Fliehburg". This is a castle that was not regularly inhabited, but served mainly for city defense as a place where local residents could flee to in times of danger.
In 1251, the Bamberg "Fürstbischöfe," the sovereign bishops of Bamberg, acquired the castle. From 1305 to 1553, it was the residence of the bishops.
In 1553, during the Second Margrave War
, the army of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
, burnt the castle down. Afterward the castle was used as a prison for a while.
In 1801, the Bamberg physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored it from the ground up. The author E. T. A. Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he frequently stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers during the years 1808 to 1813.
Today the castle is open for public tours. There is also a restaurant in the castle called the "Restaurant Altenburg." The restaurant also manages the so-called Knights Hall, used mostly for festive occasions such as weddings or other celebrations.
From 1952 to 1982, a brown bear named Poldi lived in a "Zwinger" (a small enclosure) in the castle. The Zwinger is still available, but today only houses a stuffed bear.
In his travel guide of Bamberg and its environment around the year 1912, the author Dietrich Amende describes the castle:
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
that sits on the tallest of the seven hills of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, overlooking the city. It is located in Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
, a region in the state of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, and dates back to 1109.
History
The first mention of the Altenburg was in 1109, although it is likely that it was built on the spot of an earlier palisadePalisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
castle.
It first served as what is known is German as a "Fliehburg". This is a castle that was not regularly inhabited, but served mainly for city defense as a place where local residents could flee to in times of danger.
In 1251, the Bamberg "Fürstbischöfe," the sovereign bishops of Bamberg, acquired the castle. From 1305 to 1553, it was the residence of the bishops.
In 1553, during the Second Margrave War
Second Margrave War
The Second Margrave War was a conflict in the Holy Roman Empire between 1552 and 1555. Instigated by Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth, it involved numerous raids, plunderings and the destruction of many towns and castles in the empire, especially in...
, the army of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Albert Alcibiades was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, also known as Brandenburg-Bayreuth.Because of his bellicose nature Albert received the cognomen Alcibiades after his death; during his lifetime Albert was known as Bellator .He was a member of the Franconian branch of the House of...
, burnt the castle down. Afterward the castle was used as a prison for a while.
In 1801, the Bamberg physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored it from the ground up. The author E. T. A. Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he frequently stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers during the years 1808 to 1813.
The Altenburg Society
In 1818, a society for the maintenance of the Altenburg, named the "Altenburgverein e.V. Bamberg," received the castle. The society was founded by Anton von Grafenstein, the postmaster of Bamberg.Today the castle is open for public tours. There is also a restaurant in the castle called the "Restaurant Altenburg." The restaurant also manages the so-called Knights Hall, used mostly for festive occasions such as weddings or other celebrations.
From 1952 to 1982, a brown bear named Poldi lived in a "Zwinger" (a small enclosure) in the castle. The Zwinger is still available, but today only houses a stuffed bear.
In Written Works
Quotation from a Travel Guide from the Early 20th CenturyIn his travel guide of Bamberg and its environment around the year 1912, the author Dietrich Amende describes the castle:
External links
- Altenburgverein
- http://www.roadstoruins.com/altenburg.htm
- http://burgerbe.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/die-altenburg-eta-hoffmanns-domizil-uber-bamberg/
- Restaurant Altenburg
- http://www.foracheim.de/cms.php?cmspid=127