Castle Kastellaun
Encyclopedia
Castle Kastellaun is a ruined medieval castle
in Kastellaun
in the Rhein-Hunsrück
district in Rheinland-Palatinate, Germany
.
In 1321, Archbishop Baldwin of Trier besieged the castle. In 1325 he built the neighbouring Burg Balduinseck as a challenge to Sponheim.
After Walram of Sponheim-Kreuznach abandoned Kastellaun in 1340, the castle was administered by bailiff
s and burgmänner
. The line of the counts of Sponheim subsequently died out and the castle descended with the title to Bernhard II, Margrave of Baden and Count Friedrich of Veldenz, who ruled jointly in a "condominium
".
The last Count of Veldenz died in 1444 and his share of the rulership passed to his son-in-law Stefan, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken
. This drew the Rear County of Sponheim into the Palatine sphere of influence, involving it in war and the possession of the Palatinate
.
In 1594 Edward Fortunatus retreated to Castle Kastellaun after losing the Margravate of Baden, and it became a residence again.
During the Thirty Years' War
, from 1618 to 1648, the castle was occupied. During the War of the Palatine Succession, in 1689, it was destroyed by French troops and was not rebuilt.
In 1820 the ruins came into private hands. In 1884 the municipality of Kastellaun bought them and made the first repairs to stabilise them. From 1990 to 1993 the hill and the ruins there were cleaned up. The lower castle and access were restored.
, the walls
, and two residential buildings. The older east building dates to the 14th century; excavations in 1990-93 uncovered its cellar. The ruin on the west side of the main castle that can be seen from far away is what remains of the east end of the castle hall and the adjacent rectangular powder-tower. Both of these buildings were probably constructed no earlier than the 16th century. On the east side, facing the town, there is a secondary defensive wall or zwinger. In the outer castle, two modern buildings now stand on old foundations. Originally entry to the castle was by way of a gate-tower in the north corner. The current entrance is modern.
Restaurateurs now operate in the castle cellars and parts of the new buildings constructed on old foundations in the lower castle during 2006-07. They offer among other things medieval-style feasts.
In addition, on Sundays in summer the municipality of Kastellaun offers a children's activity programme. Further special events attract particularly large numbers of visitors to the ruin.
On 9 September 2007, a documentation centre was dedicated in the lower castle. It issues a pamphlet on the most important events in the region from early times to the present. On the ground floor, in a "House of Regional History", the primary stages of the Celtic and Roman past of the Kastellaun region are displayed. A reconstruction of the wagon burial discovered in Bell
in 1938, remains of Celtic pottery, fibulæ and jewellery, and a model of a Roman legionary's helmet convey an impression of how our ancestors once lived. The first floor depicts the life of the knights and nobility in castles in Hunsrück during the Middle Ages. On the upper floor are models and information about the former Pydna missile base and the Hunsrück peace movement
as well as the current usage as a federal defence installation and festival site (Nature One
).
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...
in Kastellaun
Kastellaun
-Climate:Yearly precipitation in Kastellaun amounts to 755 mm, which falls into the middle third of the precipitation chart for all Germany. At 53% of the German Weather Service’s weather stations, lower figures recorded. The driest month is April. The most rainfall comes in June. In that...
in the Rhein-Hunsrück
Rhein-Hunsrück
Rhein-Hunsrück is a district in the middle of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The neighbouring districts are Mayen-Koblenz, Rhein-Lahn, Mainz-Bingen, Bad Kreuznach, Birkenfeld, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Cochem-Zell.-History:...
district in Rheinland-Palatinate, 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 ruins of the castle are on the castle hill above the town of Kastellaun and are connected to the former wall of the town.History
Constructed in the 13th century, the castle is first mentioned in 1226 as Kestilun, a possession of the Count of Sponheim. In 1301 it was the residence of Simon II of Sponheim-Kreuznach.In 1321, Archbishop Baldwin of Trier besieged the castle. In 1325 he built the neighbouring Burg Balduinseck as a challenge to Sponheim.
After Walram of Sponheim-Kreuznach abandoned Kastellaun in 1340, the castle was administered by bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
s and burgmänner
Burgmann
A Burgmann was a member of the low aristocracy in the Middle Ages who guarded and defended castles. They were hired by a lord of the castle to take on the burghut, the guarding and defense of a castle....
. The line of the counts of Sponheim subsequently died out and the castle descended with the title to Bernhard II, Margrave of Baden and Count Friedrich of Veldenz, who ruled jointly in a "condominium
Condominium (international law)
In international law, a condominium is a political territory in or over which two or more sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium and exercise their rights jointly, without dividing it up into 'national' zones.Although a condominium has always been...
".
The last Count of Veldenz died in 1444 and his share of the rulership passed to his son-in-law Stefan, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken
Stefan, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken
Stephen of Simmern-Zweibrücken was Count Palatine of Simmern and Zweibrücken from 1410.He was the son of King Rupert of Germany and his wife Elisabeth of Nuremberg. After the death of Rupert the Palatinate was divided between four of his surviving sons...
. This drew the Rear County of Sponheim into the Palatine sphere of influence, involving it in war and the possession of the Palatinate
Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken is a former state of the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Zweibrücken.-Overview:→ History before 1394 see main article County of Zweibrücken→ History before 1444 see main article County of Veldenz...
.
In 1594 Edward Fortunatus retreated to Castle Kastellaun after losing the Margravate of Baden, and it became a residence again.
During 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....
, from 1618 to 1648, the castle was occupied. During the War of the Palatine Succession, in 1689, it was destroyed by French troops and was not rebuilt.
In 1820 the ruins came into private hands. In 1884 the municipality of Kastellaun bought them and made the first repairs to stabilise them. From 1990 to 1993 the hill and the ruins there were cleaned up. The lower castle and access were restored.
Architecture
The castle consists of a main castle and an outer castle. The main castle includes the remains of the defensive keepKeep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
, the walls
Castle Walls
"Castle Walls" is a song by American rapper T.I., from his seventh studio album No Mercy. The song features Pop/R&B singer Christina Aguilera, and was produced by Alex da Kid....
, and two residential buildings. The older east building dates to the 14th century; excavations in 1990-93 uncovered its cellar. The ruin on the west side of the main castle that can be seen from far away is what remains of the east end of the castle hall and the adjacent rectangular powder-tower. Both of these buildings were probably constructed no earlier than the 16th century. On the east side, facing the town, there is a secondary defensive wall or zwinger. In the outer castle, two modern buildings now stand on old foundations. Originally entry to the castle was by way of a gate-tower in the north corner. The current entrance is modern.
Present-day use
The former residential keep or donjon is used as an open-air stage for theatrical performances.Restaurateurs now operate in the castle cellars and parts of the new buildings constructed on old foundations in the lower castle during 2006-07. They offer among other things medieval-style feasts.
In addition, on Sundays in summer the municipality of Kastellaun offers a children's activity programme. Further special events attract particularly large numbers of visitors to the ruin.
On 9 September 2007, a documentation centre was dedicated in the lower castle. It issues a pamphlet on the most important events in the region from early times to the present. On the ground floor, in a "House of Regional History", the primary stages of the Celtic and Roman past of the Kastellaun region are displayed. A reconstruction of the wagon burial discovered in Bell
Bell, Rhein-Hunsrück
-History:In 1220, Bell had its first documentary mention in the directory of yearly payments to the Archbishopric of Trier, the liber annalium. Even so, Bell is a much older settlement. The name itself is pre-Germanic, being a Celtic word for a hill or a settlement in the heights...
in 1938, remains of Celtic pottery, fibulæ and jewellery, and a model of a Roman legionary's helmet convey an impression of how our ancestors once lived. The first floor depicts the life of the knights and nobility in castles in Hunsrück during the Middle Ages. On the upper floor are models and information about the former Pydna missile base and the Hunsrück peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
as well as the current usage as a federal defence installation and festival site (Nature One
Nature One
Nature One is one of the largest European open air Electronic music festivals, featuring many renowned DJs from Germany and all over the world. In significance it is not as big as Mayday nor as old, having started 3 years later than the Mayday festival...
).