Erichsburg
Encyclopedia
The Ericsburg in the village of the same name in the borough of Dassel
in Lower Saxony
, Germany, is a castle
that was built in the 16th century within the Principality of Calenberg. It is currently (2007) in a poor state of repair.
, which the counts of Dassel
had built in the 13th century. In 1521 during the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud it was bombarded with heavy cannon from the heights of Hatop and captured by Eric I together with Henry the Younger of Wolfenbüttel. The destroyed castle lies in the Amtsbergen hills north of Dassel and about 3 km west of the Erichsburg on a steep-sided eminence. Today only the remains of walls and ramparts are left.
Duke Julius of Wolfenbüttel had the castle extended between 1604 and 1612. His master builder
was Paul Francke
. By 1688 buildings from the original construction phase were demolished due to their dilapidated state. The outworks was developed for the economic support of the castle into a small estate settlement, the village of Erichsburg which belongs to Dassel. From 1891 to 1980 the Erichsburg was owned by the Hanoverian State Church and housed a theological seminary. Since then the castle has been in private ownership. Renovations have been carried out. The upper part of the staircase tower (Treppenturm) is in a poor condition and numerous repairs are visible.
Dassel
Dassel is a town in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district Northeim. It is located near the hills of the Solling mountains.-History:...
in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany, is a 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...
that was built in the 16th century within the Principality of Calenberg. It is currently (2007) in a poor state of repair.
Location
The castles was built in a marshy depression. It is of the type known as lowland castles or Niederungsburgen.Erichsburg
The Erichsburg was formerly guarded by a wide moat and high ramparts. Next to it was a cultivated outworks (Vorwerk).Earlier castle
Its predecessor was Hunnesrück CastleHunnesrück Castle
Hunnesrück Castle was a hilltop castle built in the 13th century. Its ruins are located in the Amtsberge hills near Dassel in the district of Northeim in south Lower Saxony....
, which the counts of Dassel
County of Dassel
The County of Dassel emerged shortly after the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries when, after the extinction of the male line of the Billungs, its seat in Suilbergau, north of the Solling hills was divided into the domains of Einbeck and Dassel. Reinold of Dassel was able to secure rights...
had built in the 13th century. In 1521 during the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud it was bombarded with heavy cannon from the heights of Hatop and captured by Eric I together with Henry the Younger of Wolfenbüttel. The destroyed castle lies in the Amtsbergen hills north of Dassel and about 3 km west of the Erichsburg on a steep-sided eminence. Today only the remains of walls and ramparts are left.
History
Duke Eric I of Brunswick-Lüneburg had the Erichsburg built between 1527 and 1530. It was named after his son and heir, born in 1528, later Duke Eric II. It was used by his father, Eric I, for a time as his administrative seat (Amtssitz). During the construction he lived at Hunnesrück Castle about 3 km west of the new castle.Duke Julius of Wolfenbüttel had the castle extended between 1604 and 1612. His master builder
Master Builder
Master Builder can refer to:* Master builder, also "master mason", a central figure leading construction projects in pre-modern times .* The Master Builder, a play by Henrik Ibsen....
was Paul Francke
Paul Francke
Paul Francke is an American songwriter and instrumentalist. He formed the synth pop band Alsace Lorraine in 1998 with guitarist Hewson Chen of the Parasol Records group Vitesse. His music has focused on central Appalachian subjects, the band name referring to that region's history as a contested...
. By 1688 buildings from the original construction phase were demolished due to their dilapidated state. The outworks was developed for the economic support of the castle into a small estate settlement, the village of Erichsburg which belongs to Dassel. From 1891 to 1980 the Erichsburg was owned by the Hanoverian State Church and housed a theological seminary. Since then the castle has been in private ownership. Renovations have been carried out. The upper part of the staircase tower (Treppenturm) is in a poor condition and numerous repairs are visible.