Burg Hoehingen
Encyclopedia
Burg Hoehingen is a castle built in the early middle ages
on the top of the Schlossberg mountain above the town Achkarren
, a part of the city of Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
in Baden-Württemberg
in Germany
.
. The height difference between the town in the valley and the former castle is about 150 m (460 ft). Hoehingen was an important castle
for centuries. The distance to the strategically important and hard-fought fortification
Breisach was just about 7 km (4.5 mi). The reason for the strategic importance lies in the topographic situation which allows only two narrow passages for north-south routes of commerce on the right side of the Rhine. One route goes between Riegel
and the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) and the other one between Breisach and Achkarren. Besides this, the Burg Höhingen played a counterpart to the more important Breisach during the changing history that was punctuated by war - particularly in the times of the Thirty Years' War
.
Only little is known about the beginnings of the first castle buildings on the top of the Schloßberg mountain. But there are references of first castle buildings in the year 1064 AD when the town Achkarren was mentioned first time in documents on the occasion of the giving of the village to the cloister
of Ottmarsheim (a small Town in Alsace
) by King Heinrich IV
. In the following centuries the buildings have been extended several times. The first documented reference of the castle dates from the year 1259 AD. After centuries of existence the castle was burned down 1525 AD during the German Peasants' War
(a German Peasant Revolt
) with participation of the peasants of Achkarren.
In 1620 AD the castle was extended to a strong defensive fortification because the Schlossberg mountain gave excellent views of the war events in the Rhine valley and the fortification of Breisach. In a contemporary report of the Breisach mayor to the emperor's governor of the lands of Further Austria
in Waldshut
the castle is described as:
„The location (of the castle) is excellent, because it tops a mountain and stands on hard rock, which ist hard to access because of its steepness and therefore can't be commanded by any neighbor town. The building is constructed of heavy stonework, surrounded on one side by a deep trench and an unaccessible praecipitium (=sheer) on the other side, which was used as a quarry. The castle possesses a good cistern.“
In 1633 AD an attack from Breisach occurred. The Catholic troops of the emperor were able to conquer and plunder the castle which before was occupied by the Swedes which were supported by the Protestant inhabitants of Ihringen
. According to the reports the prey was among others about 15,000 liters of wine. The goods of the inhabitants of Ihringen, which was stocked in the castle, were totally lost. Reports tell about a loss of 200 horses and about 300 pieces of cattle, which gives references of the size of the castle. After several severe quarrels the castle finally was burned down by the emperor's occupying forces when they lost the ability to keep the castle. Because from 1671 AD on it was officially allowed to use the stones of the resulting ruins for the fortifications in Breisach and later for private houses, today only poor relics of the ruins can be seen.
An impression of the possible look of the castle from a engraving
by Matthäus Merian
from 1644. Only little is known about the realism of this picture. What can be said is that the entrance of the castle must have been exactly at the place the engraving indicates. The entrance can still be seen.
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
on the top of the Schlossberg mountain above the town Achkarren
Achkarren
Achkarren is part of the town of "Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl", a small town in Germany, and is located in the southernmost part of the town. It also borders the town of Ihringen. The valley of Achkarren faces west and is 5 km from the Rhine river and 7 km from Breisach...
, a part of the city of Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Emmendingen, Schwarzwald-Baar, Waldshut, Lörrach and the French départements of the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin. The district-free city of Freiburg is surrounded by the district...
in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
in 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...
.
Location
The castle is located on the top of the 354 metres (1,161.4 ft) above sea level Schlossberg mountain in der Rhine Rift in the neighborhood of BreisachBreisach
Breisach is a town with approximately 16,500 inhabitants, situated along the Rhine in the Rhine Valley, in the district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about halfway between Freiburg and Colmar — 20 kilometres away from each — and about 60 kilometres north of Basel near the...
. The height difference between the town in the valley and the former castle is about 150 m (460 ft). Hoehingen was an important 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...
for centuries. The distance to the strategically important and hard-fought fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
Breisach was just about 7 km (4.5 mi). The reason for the strategic importance lies in the topographic situation which allows only two narrow passages for north-south routes of commerce on the right side of the Rhine. One route goes between Riegel
Riegel am Kaiserstuhl
Riegel am Kaiserstuhl is a German municipality in the district of Emmendingen in Baden-Württemberg. It is accessed by the motorway A5 .-Education:...
and the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) and the other one between Breisach and Achkarren. Besides this, the Burg Höhingen played a counterpart to the more important Breisach during the changing history that was punctuated by war - particularly in the times of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
History
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
of Ottmarsheim (a small Town in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
) by King Heinrich IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
. In the following centuries the buildings have been extended several times. The first documented reference of the castle dates from the year 1259 AD. After centuries of existence the castle was burned down 1525 AD during the German Peasants' War
German Peasants' War
The German Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt was a widespread popular revolt in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, 1524–1526. At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict involved an estimated 300,000 peasants: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000...
(a German Peasant Revolt
Peasant revolt
Peasant, Peasants' or Popular is variously paired with Revolt, Uprising and War and may refer to :*Daze Village Uprising 209 BC*Yellow Turban Rebellion 184...
) with participation of the peasants of Achkarren.
In 1620 AD the castle was extended to a strong defensive fortification because the Schlossberg mountain gave excellent views of the war events in the Rhine valley and the fortification of Breisach. In a contemporary report of the Breisach mayor to the emperor's governor of the lands of Further Austria
Further Austria
Further Austria or Anterior Austria was the collective name for the old possessions of the House of Habsburg in the former Swabian stem duchy of south-western Germany, including territories in the Alsace region west of the Rhine and in Vorarlberg, after the focus of the Habsburgs had moved to the...
in Waldshut
Waldshut
Waldshut is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Lörrach, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and Schwarzwald-Baar; followed in the south by the Swiss cantons of Schaffhausen, Zürich and Aargau.-History:The district dates to the Oberamt Waldshut, which was...
the castle is described as:
„The location (of the castle) is excellent, because it tops a mountain and stands on hard rock, which ist hard to access because of its steepness and therefore can't be commanded by any neighbor town. The building is constructed of heavy stonework, surrounded on one side by a deep trench and an unaccessible praecipitium (=sheer) on the other side, which was used as a quarry. The castle possesses a good cistern.“
In 1633 AD an attack from Breisach occurred. The Catholic troops of the emperor were able to conquer and plunder the castle which before was occupied by the Swedes which were supported by the Protestant inhabitants of Ihringen
Ihringen
Ihringen is a town in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
. According to the reports the prey was among others about 15,000 liters of wine. The goods of the inhabitants of Ihringen, which was stocked in the castle, were totally lost. Reports tell about a loss of 200 horses and about 300 pieces of cattle, which gives references of the size of the castle. After several severe quarrels the castle finally was burned down by the emperor's occupying forces when they lost the ability to keep the castle. Because from 1671 AD on it was officially allowed to use the stones of the resulting ruins for the fortifications in Breisach and later for private houses, today only poor relics of the ruins can be seen.
Look
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
by Matthäus Merian
Matthäus Merian
Matthäus Merian der Ältere was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house.-Early life and marriage:...
from 1644. Only little is known about the realism of this picture. What can be said is that the entrance of the castle must have been exactly at the place the engraving indicates. The entrance can still be seen.