Denklingen Castle
Encyclopedia
Denklingen Castle is a historic building in the Denklingen district of Reichshof
in the Oberbergischer Kreis of North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
.
On the 23rd of February, 1413, Johann von Gimborn was granted possession of Denklingen for life by Duke Adolf of Berg together with the people of the parish Drolshagen
. This tradition had its origin in the feudal system. Occupiers of fortified castles in the 14th century had certain obligations to their lord (Castrum ligium). They could be called upon at any time to provide military assistance when the lord called for it.
On the 24th of August, 1423, Engelbert von Scheidt, called Weschpfenning, was granted the fiefdom of the castle of Denklingen.
A document dated the 1st of September, 1433, created when Duke Adolf formed an alliance with the landgrave
Ludwig I of Hessen, directs that among other things Denklingen became an open house, "Unserem Slosse". On the 29th of November, 1435 Duke Adolf pledged the castles of Windeck and Denklingen to his steward, Wilhelm von Nesselrode.
A document dated the 6th of December, 1473, stated that Windeck and Denklingen had come under the ownership of the Ehrensteins.
Little is known about the history of the castle under bergischer management. This changes with the Siegburger treaty of 1604 which agreed a transfer of territories and people. On 2 December a ceremony when the new subjects declared their homage took place near Heisterstock bei Winterberg (Nümbrecht municipality) in the open air. The nobility of the new Berg lands were ordered on 11 March 1605 to take tribute to the castle at Denklingen and swear an oath of allegiance to the duke as lord.
The current building was originally a moat
ed castle and dates from the 16th to the 18th century. In 1672 the management of the Windeck estates was moved to the castle. It was also called bursary office, because the steward officiated there.
In 1698, the 2-storey gate house was renovated. Nearby was a stone vault which had served earlier as a prison cell.
Restoration work at the castle was completed in 1987.
Reichshof
Reichshof is a Northrhine-Westfalian municipality in the Oberbergischer Kreis in Germany, about 40 km east of Cologne. It is a health resort, known for its good climate.-General meaning:...
in the Oberbergischer Kreis of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, 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...
.
History
Originally Denklingen seems to have been the seat of the old Grafschaft Sayn court and there was already a castle on the site in the 14th century belonging to the Duke of Berg.On the 23rd of February, 1413, Johann von Gimborn was granted possession of Denklingen for life by Duke Adolf of Berg together with the people of the parish Drolshagen
Drolshagen
Drolshagen is a town belonging to the district of Olpe in the Regierungsbezirk of Arnsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, lying roughly 5 km west of Olpe.- Location :...
. This tradition had its origin in the feudal system. Occupiers of fortified castles in the 14th century had certain obligations to their lord (Castrum ligium). They could be called upon at any time to provide military assistance when the lord called for it.
On the 24th of August, 1423, Engelbert von Scheidt, called Weschpfenning, was granted the fiefdom of the castle of Denklingen.
A document dated the 1st of September, 1433, created when Duke Adolf formed an alliance with the landgrave
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
Ludwig I of Hessen, directs that among other things Denklingen became an open house, "Unserem Slosse". On the 29th of November, 1435 Duke Adolf pledged the castles of Windeck and Denklingen to his steward, Wilhelm von Nesselrode.
A document dated the 6th of December, 1473, stated that Windeck and Denklingen had come under the ownership of the Ehrensteins.
Little is known about the history of the castle under bergischer management. This changes with the Siegburger treaty of 1604 which agreed a transfer of territories and people. On 2 December a ceremony when the new subjects declared their homage took place near Heisterstock bei Winterberg (Nümbrecht municipality) in the open air. The nobility of the new Berg lands were ordered on 11 March 1605 to take tribute to the castle at Denklingen and swear an oath of allegiance to the duke as lord.
The current building was originally a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
ed castle and dates from the 16th to the 18th century. In 1672 the management of the Windeck estates was moved to the castle. It was also called bursary office, because the steward officiated there.
In 1698, the 2-storey gate house was renovated. Nearby was a stone vault which had served earlier as a prison cell.
Restoration work at the castle was completed in 1987.
Specific features today
- The castle is open to the public.
- A potter market is held in the castle court yearly at PentecostPentecostPentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
. - A wedding room is available for hire on the first floor.
Source
- Oswald Gerhard: Eckenhagen and Denklingen in the change of the times. A home history of the former imperial court area Eckenhagen. Ed. from the home association Eckenhagen inc., Eckenhagen in 1953.