Burghausen Castle
Encyclopedia
The Burghausen Castle in Burghausen
, Upper Bavaria
is the longest castle
complex in Europe
(1,043 m).
. The castle (which was founded before 1025) was transferred to the Wittelsbach
s after the death of the last count of Burghausen Gebhard II in 1168. In 1180 they were appointed duke of Bavaria and the castle was extended under duke Otto I of Wittelsbach.
With the first partition of Bavaria in 1255 Burghausen Castle became the second residence of the dukes of Lower Bavaria
, the main residence was Landshut
. In 1255 under Duke Henry XIII
(1253–1290) the work for the main castle commenced. In 1331 Burghausen and its castle passed to Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria
.
Under the dukes of Bavaria-Landshut
(1392-1503), the fortifications were extended around the complete castle hill. Starting with Margarete of Austria, the deported wife of the despotic Duke Henry XVI (1393–1450), the castle became the residence of the Duke's consorts and widows, and also a stronghold for the ducal treasures. In 1447 Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria
died in the castle as Henry's prisoner. Under Duke Georg of Bavaria (1479–1503) the work was completed and Burghausen Castle became the strongest fortress of the region.
Also after the reunification of Bavaria in 1505 with the Landshut War of Succession
the castle had military importance, also due to the threat of the Ottoman Empire
it was subsequently modernised. During the Thirty years war Gustav Horn was kept imprisoned in the castle 1634-1641. After the Treaty of Teschen
in 1779 Burghausen Castle became a border castle. During the Napoleonic Wars
the castle suffered some destruction.
castle comprises the main castle with the inner courtyard and five outer courtyards.
The outermost point of the main castle is the Palas with the ducal private rooms. It today houses the Castle museum, including late Gothic paintings of the Bavarian State Picture Collection
. On the town side of the main castle next to the donjon is the gothic, inner Chapel St.Elizabeth (1255) and the Dürnitz (knights' hall) with its two vaulted halls. Opposite to the Dürnitz are the wings of the Duchess.
The first outer courtyard was protecting the main castle and included also the stables, the brewery and the bakery. The second courtyard houses the large Arsenal building (1420) and the gunsmith's tower. This yard is protected by the dominant Saint George's Gate (1494). The Grain Tower and the Grain Measure's Tower was used for stabling and as a store for animal food, they belong the third courtyard. The main sight of the forth courtyard is the late Gothic, outer Chapel St.Hedwig (1479-1489). The court's officials and craftsmen worked and lived in the fifth courtyard which was once protected by a strong fortification. In 1800 this fortification was destroyed by the French under Michel Ney
.
The Pulverturm ("Powder Tower", constructed before 1533) protected the castle in the western valley next to lake Wöhrsee. A battlement connects this tower with the main castle.
Burghausen, Altötting
Burghausen is the largest city in the Altötting district of Oberbayern in Germany. It is situated on the Salzach river, near the border with Austria. Its castle, atop a ridge, is the longest castle in Europe .- History :...
, Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Upper Bavaria is located in the southern portion of Bavaria, and is centered around the city of Munich. It is subdivided into four regions : Ingolstadt, Munich, Bayerisches Oberland , and Südostoberbayern...
is the longest 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...
complex in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(1,043 m).
History
The castle hill was already settled in the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. The castle (which was founded before 1025) was transferred to the Wittelsbach
Wittelsbach
The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria.Members of the family served as Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria , Counts Palatine of the Rhine , Margraves of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland , Elector-Archbishops of Cologne , Dukes of...
s after the death of the last count of Burghausen Gebhard II in 1168. In 1180 they were appointed duke of Bavaria and the castle was extended under duke Otto I of Wittelsbach.
With the first partition of Bavaria in 1255 Burghausen Castle became the second residence of the dukes of Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.- Geography :Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions - Landshut and Donau-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
, the main residence was Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
. In 1255 under Duke Henry XIII
Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria
Henry XIII of Bavaria, member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was Duke of Lower Bavaria. As Duke of Lower Bavaria he is also called Henry I.- Family :...
(1253–1290) the work for the main castle commenced. In 1331 Burghausen and its castle passed to Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria
Otto IV, Duke of Lower Bavaria
Otto IV was a Duke of Lower Bavaria.-Family:He was a son of Stephen I, Duke of Bavaria and Jutta of Schweidnitz....
.
Under the dukes of Bavaria-Landshut
Bavaria-Landshut
-History:The creation of the duchy was the result of the death of Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian. In the Treaty of Landsberg 1349, which divided up Louis's empire, his sons Stephen, William, and Albert were to receive jointly Lower Bavaria and the Netherlands. Four years later the inheritance was...
(1392-1503), the fortifications were extended around the complete castle hill. Starting with Margarete of Austria, the deported wife of the despotic Duke Henry XVI (1393–1450), the castle became the residence of the Duke's consorts and widows, and also a stronghold for the ducal treasures. In 1447 Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria
Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria
Duke Louis VII of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt from 1413 until 1443. He was a son of Stephen III and Taddea Visconti.-Biography:...
died in the castle as Henry's prisoner. Under Duke Georg of Bavaria (1479–1503) the work was completed and Burghausen Castle became the strongest fortress of the region.
Also after the reunification of Bavaria in 1505 with the Landshut War of Succession
Landshut War of Succession
The Landshut War of Succession resulted from an agreement between the duchies of Bavaria-Munich and Bavaria-Landshut . The agreement concerned the law of succession when one of the two Dukes should die without a male heir...
the castle had military importance, also due to the threat of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
it was subsequently modernised. During the Thirty years war Gustav Horn was kept imprisoned in the castle 1634-1641. After the Treaty of Teschen
Treaty of Teschen
The Treaty of Teschen was signed on May 13, 1779, in Cieszyn , Austrian Silesia, between Austria and Prussia, which officially ended the War of the Bavarian Succession sparked by the death of Elector Maximilian III Joseph...
in 1779 Burghausen Castle became a border castle. During the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
the castle suffered some destruction.
Architecture
The gothicGothic 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....
castle comprises the main castle with the inner courtyard and five outer courtyards.
The outermost point of the main castle is the Palas with the ducal private rooms. It today houses the Castle museum, including late Gothic paintings of the Bavarian State Picture Collection
Bavarian State Picture Collection
The Bavarian State Picture Collections , based in Munich, oversees the collections of artworks held by the Free State of Bavaria. Works include paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, video art and installation art...
. On the town side of the main castle next to the donjon is the gothic, inner Chapel St.Elizabeth (1255) and the Dürnitz (knights' hall) with its two vaulted halls. Opposite to the Dürnitz are the wings of the Duchess.
The first outer courtyard was protecting the main castle and included also the stables, the brewery and the bakery. The second courtyard houses the large Arsenal building (1420) and the gunsmith's tower. This yard is protected by the dominant Saint George's Gate (1494). The Grain Tower and the Grain Measure's Tower was used for stabling and as a store for animal food, they belong the third courtyard. The main sight of the forth courtyard is the late Gothic, outer Chapel St.Hedwig (1479-1489). The court's officials and craftsmen worked and lived in the fifth courtyard which was once protected by a strong fortification. In 1800 this fortification was destroyed by the French under Michel Ney
Michel Ney
Michel Ney , 1st Duc d'Elchingen, 1st Prince de la Moskowa was a French soldier and military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was one of the original 18 Marshals of France created by Napoleon I...
.
The Pulverturm ("Powder Tower", constructed before 1533) protected the castle in the western valley next to lake Wöhrsee. A battlement connects this tower with the main castle.