Blutenburg Castle
Encyclopedia
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 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...
, on the banks of river Würm
Würm
The Würm is a river in Bavaria, Germany, right tributary of the Amper. It drains the overflow from Lake Starnberg and flows swiftly through the villages of Gauting, Krailling, Planegg, Gräfelfing and Lochham as well as part of Munich before joining, near Dachau, the Amper, which soon afterwards...
.
History
The castle was built between two arms of the River Würm for Duke Albert III, Duke of BavariaAlbert III, Duke of Bavaria
Albert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich , , since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was born to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:Albert was born in Munich....
in 1438–39 as a hunting-lodge, replacing an older castle burned down in war. Albert's son, Duke Sigismund of Bavaria
Sigismund of Bavaria
Sigismund of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty. He ruled as Duke of Bavaria-Munich from 1460 to 1467, and then as Duke of Bavaria-Dachau until his death.-Biography:...
, ordered extensions of the castle beginning in 1488; he died here in 1501.
He also ordered the construction of the palace chapel, a splendid masterpiece of late Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style which still has its stained-glass windows, along with the altars with three paintings created in 1491 by Jan Polack
Jan Polack
Jan Polack Johannes Polack , was a 15th-century painter....
. The main building became derelict during the Thirty Years War, but was rebuilt in 1680–81. The castle is still surrounded by a ring wall with four towers.
Present day
Since 1983 the International Youth LibraryInternational Youth Library
The International Youth Library is the largest library for international children's and youth literature in the world...
(Internationale Jugendbibliothek) has been housed in Blutenburg Castle. The Blutenburg concerts are well known.