Brennhausen Castle

The record books pertaining to the Bishop of Wurzburg throws light on the holdings in Brennhausen by that of the Hans Truchseß. Until the year 1542, it was the Truchseß family that had held the reins of Brennhausen.

Physical evidences as well as documentation point to the burning of Brennhausen Castle during the year 1525, as when Peasants had revolted. The beam pertaining to the roof and the entrance related to one of the cellars belong to the age that followed this year. By the year 1587, Georg William von Kotzau had occupied the Brennhausen castle, and the year 1593 saw the return of the Truchseß family to the castle.

Brennhausen Castle

There is also a tradition that believes that Brennhausen Castle had been a monastery during the olden times, as the naming pertaining to the surrounding fields suggests such a possibility.

The castle of Johannisburg in Aschaffenburg was erected during the period that extended between 1605 and 1614, and it was built by Georg Ridinger. Schloss Johannisburg had served as the second residence related to the prince bishop of Mainz until 1803, and the construction of this castle was made possible through sandstone and other building materials found around the area of Aschaffenburg.

Aschaffenburg Schloss Johannisburg

This castle that takes its place on the prime riverside location is one of the attractions that make the city of Aschaffenburg proud, as it overlooks the waterside pertaining to Maine.

The oldest part pertaining to the Schloss Johannisburg is a keep that had been a part of the castle that had got destroyed in the 14^th century, with the keep getting included in the reconstruction process. The interiors of the castle were subjected to reconstruction during the 18^th century, as it embraced the style related to Classicism.

The former stately rooms of the castle are open to public view, as one can come across galleries of paintings that belonged to period 15^th to that of 18^th centuries.

Aschaffenburg Schloss Johannisburg courtyard

The castle courtyard is a host to regular summer markets as well as festivals, as the Schloss Johannisburg, one of the prime buildings belonging to the renaissance period adds value to Aschaffenburg. (photos: Sven Teschke)

Founded in the year 1219, Veste Oberhaus is a fortress, as it had donned the role of a stronghold for most of the time for that of Bishop of Passau in Germany. The building gets spotted on the mountain crest, found between that of the Ilz and Danube rivers, as it has a dominating presence in the city of Passau.

A part pertaining to this fortress system, which is but the Veste Niederhaus is found below Oberhaus and on the tip spotted between that of the rivers Danube and Ilz.

Veste Oberhaus fortress in Passau

The Veste Niederhaus had become the prime target of attacks for about five times between the period 1250 and 1482, as it had got attacked twice between the period 1298 and 1367, as the citizens pertaining to Passau started rebelling against the bishop. This fortress was occupied by the Bavarians in 1741, as the Austrians drove the Bavarians away after a year. Later, the Veste Niederhaus was back under the control of the Bishop in 1745.

When secularization was witnessed in 1802, the Bishop’s rule was brought to an end, as Napoleon had also took hold of this fortress for some time, before the Austrians got the better of Napoleon and his men in 1805. Bavaria took control of this area after the congress of Vienna, and the fortress was put to use a state as well as a military prison for about a century, and when the fortress was taken over by the city of Passau in 1932, it had instituted a museum. One can spot a restaurant and a youth hostel also at this place. (photos: Demonwhip, germany-vacations.com)

Veste Oberhaus, Passau

The Nuremberg Castle encompasses three sections, as that of the imperial castle, some buildings pertaining to the Burgraves of Nuremberg as well as the municipal buildings related to the Imperial city spotted at the eastern site.

Nuremberg castle

The first mention of this castle dates back to 1105, as the Kaisers as well as the kings belonging to the Holy Roman Empire had dwelled at the palace from 1050 to 1571. When Nuremberg had been converted to an Imperial Free City in the 13^th century, the city took over the care pertaining to the castle.

The Luginsland Tower that was constructed during 1377 stands out today, and the Nuremberg Castle got damaged during 1944-45, the period concerning the Second World War, with the Sinwell Tower and the Roman double chapel remaining intact.

The state rooms in the Nuremberg Castle have been furnished with tapestries, paintings and furniture that belong to the 16^th and the 17^th centuries.

The historical form of the castle was restored after the Second World War under the direction of Julius Lincke and Rudolf Easterer. The eastern municipal buildings pertaining to the castle serve as a youth hostel, as of today.

The Mespelbrunn Castle is one among the most visited of the water castles found in Germany.

Mespelbrunn Castle

The initial precursor to this Castle had been a simple house. In 1427, the son belonging to the first owner of the house started rebuilding the house into that of fortified castle that came with towers walls and a moat to get protected from the bandits who had made Spessart as their hiding place.

The round tower of the Begfried is the only old component, as the generations that had followed had converted this defense structure into that of a manor-house, embracing the Renaissance style. The look worn by the Mespelbrunn Castle as of today is the result of the re-buildings made possible by Peter Echter and his wife during the period 1551 and 1569.

The main building of this castle has got erected on that of a base resembling a square on the eastern sections of the pond, as the two storied house surround the southern, northern and the western sections of the court.

Towers get spotted at the southwestern and the northwestern corners of the house. The family of courts pertaining to Ingelheim owns the Mespelbrunn Castle as of today. (photo:Rainer Lippert)

It was built by King Maximilian II of Bavaria, as it gets spotted in the village of Schwangau that lies near Füssen. Erected on the remnants of fortress Schwanstein, it had got mentioned for the first time in historical records in the 12th century.

Hohenschwangau castle, Bavaria

Crown Prince Maximilian had captured the ruins pertaining to the fortress Schwanstein in the year 1832, and the reconstruction pertaining to the castle began in 1833, which continued until 1837, as additions were included up till 1855. Domenico Quaglio was the architect who paved way for the Neo-Gothic style related to the exteriors. After the death of Maximilian in 1864, Ludwig, his son had taken control over his father’s room in the Hohenschwangau Castle. When Ludwig had died in 1866, the only resident of the castle was Queen Marie.

Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria who had occupied the third floor pertaining to the main building of the castle was the one who enabled the electrification as well as the electric elevator in the year 1905. The palace got converted to a museum after the death of Lutipold in 1912.

The castle is now a favorite residence related to the successors of Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria who had made use of Hohenschwangau Castle as their summer residence from 1933 to 1939.

It was built for the Duke of Bavaria, Albert III, and was used as his hunting lodge. His son, the Duke Sigmond of Bavaria, who ordered the extension of this castle starting from 1488, died in the castle in 1501.

Munich Blutenburg Castle

Tourists who are interested in architecture will find a treat for their eyes in this castle that boasts of chapel that is a masterpiece built in the Gothic style.

Look out for its stained windows that have survived the ravages of time. The chapel in the castle also boasts of three paintings that were painted by Jan Polack in 1491. The thirty years war left the building in a dilapidated condition.

However, the same was renovated during 1680-1681. The circular wall, replete with four towers and a moat, that surrounds the castle, will awe visitors. This castle that changed hands several times underwent major restorations and currently houses the International Youth Library since the year 1983.

Munich Blutenburg Castle

It is also famous for the concerts that take place over here, which are popularly known as Blutenburg concerts. Tourists are permitted only to visit the grounds of the castle, and the chapel.

Hohenzollern Castle

Owing to a siege, the Hohenzollern Castle was destroyed in the year 1423, as a second castle had got erected during the period 1454-1461, and the castle lost its importance by the end pertaining to the 18^th century, as several dilapidated buildings got demolished.

The third version pertaining to Hohenzollern Castle was erected for Frederick William IV of Prussia during the period that extended from 1846 and 1867, as Friedrich August Stüler took over the direction.

The castle today holds historical artifacts pertaining to Prussian history, which includes the Crown of Wilhelm II as well as some personal effects belonging to the Fredrick the Great. The castle’s grounds unveil two chapels, as it also encompasses a beer garden that offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

Hohenzollern Castle inner courtyard

The castle also holds other treasures as that of the letter written by George Washington to that of Baron von Steuben, a descendant belonging to the Hohenzollern family. (photos:A. Kniesel, Sir Gawain)

Linderhof palace,

The Linderhof Palace embraced a private atmosphere as when compared to the other palaces, and at the palace, there are four rooms with that of a real function. The Hall of Mirrors had been put to use as a living room by the king, as the mirrors had created phenomenal effects by reflecting the light thrown out by the candles during the night, and the king was also habituated to stay awake during the nights. The two tapestry chambers had no specific role, and the dining room gets spotted towards the east, as it is surrounded by that of the blue and pink cabinets.

The bedchamber at the Linderhof Palace had been completely rebuilt in 1884, and the position pertaining to the bed found on the steps found in the alcove, as that gets closed by gilded balustrade gives the look of an altar. The gardens that surround the Linderhof Palace are held as one of the gorgeous creations related to historicist garden design. The park unveils elements that have been influenced by Baroque style and that of Italian Renaissance gardens.

Schwerin Castle, Germany

The Schwerin Castle unveils glittering old spires and gables, and the Schwerin Castle also gets described as the ‘Neuschwanstein of the North’. The exteriors of this castle embrace several architectural styles. The State Museum that gets spotted in the Old Gardens unveils a huge collection that unveils Dutch paintings. Though this castle was set alight by Abrodite Prince Nicelot to avoid the act of surrendering to the German feudal lords in 1160, it got rebuilt through the efforts of Henry the Lion.

Modifications were made through the addition of ‘Großes Neues Haus’ by Duke Magnus II. In the 16^th century, the Schwerin Castle relinquished the defense capabilities, and the 17^th century witnessed the castle getting transformed into that of a palace.

Schwerin had become a part related to Mecklenburg Schwerin Free State in 1918, and by the year 1921, this castle had got converted into that of a museum.

As a castle located on an isolated rock found in the region pertaining to Saxon Switzerland since the mid thirteenth century, it was owned by that of Kings of Bohemia originally, as it then fell under the influence of Dukes of Saxony in the fourteenth century.

Konigstein Fortress

The Königstein Fortress also unveiled a monastery during the period that extended from 1516 to 1524, as it still remained as a strong fortress with garrison of its own. The fortifications at the castle were updated as well as enlarged at regular intervals.

As the Königstein Fortress had been considered an impregnable fortress, the Saxon monarchs had retreated to this fortress from that of Wittenburg and from Dresden too during testing times, as they had deposited many works pertaining to art and state treasure from that of the renowned Zwinger at this fortress.

Also, the Königstein Fortress had been converted as a state prison, where important prisoners had been held until the year 1922. (photo:Diether)

Neuschwanstein castle, Bavaria, Germany

The third floor of the Neuschwanstein castle is the proof of Ludwig’s regard for Wagner’s operas. Literally taking the meaning of ‘New Swan Castle’, the Neuschwanstein castle embraces a fairytale look, as it was erected during the 19^th century. The construction that was started during 1869 extended till Ludwig’s death, which happened in 1886. The splendorous landscape surrounding the castle and the charming inner garden of the castle that gets surrounded by that of a walled garden enhances the beauty surrounding the Neuschwanstein castle. There is also an artificial cave that can be spotted here.

Among the 14 rooms that were built before Ludwig II’s death, two story throne rooms had embraced the Byzantine style, along with that of wall paintings that portrayed angels. But there is no throne to be spotted here as Ludwig had died before the completion of Neuschwanstein castle.

It was the scene in 1207 of the Sängerkrieg, a contest of minnesingers in which Heinrich von Ofterdingen, Wolfram von Eschenbach, and Walther von der Vogelweide, among others, took part and which Richard Wagner used (with some poetic license) as the setting for a famous scene in the opera Tannhäuser.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived in Wartburg until 1227. In 1521, Martin Luther was brought to the castle for his protection by the elector of Saxony, and there he completed his translation of the New Testament. In 1817 the first general assembly of the Burschenschaften, the nationalist German student organizations, met at Wartburg castle.

The Romanesque Palace or Great Hall is the oldest part of the castle and architecturally is the most impressive of the buildings. Besides the chapel, it contains the Sängersaal or Hall of the Minstrels and the Festsaal or the Feast or Festival Hall.The Knights’ House on the western side of the drawbridge is half-timbered, and dates back to the 15th century.

The castle has two towers. The South Tower was originally erected in 1318 and it is the only tower preserved of the medieval castle. The castle keep was finished in 1859, incorporating the foundations of its medieval predecessor.
The Rüstkammer, (the armory of the Wartburg castle, used to contain a magnificent collection of about 800 pieces of armors.

In 1999 UNESCO added Wartburg Castle to the World Heritage List.
(photo: Robert Scarth, Ingo2802)