Erfenstein Castle
Castle ruins Erfenstein from the opposite side of the valley
The Erfenstein Castle is a medieval castle in Rhineland- Palatinate spur. It is located in the Palatinate Forest on the Elmsteiner valley at 265 m above sea level. NN in the vicinity of the local church Esthal ( district of Bad Durkheim ) belonging settlement Erfenstein. With the neighboring castle Spangenberg it is connected by the legend of the Leather bridge.
History
When and by whom was founded Erfenstein is not known for certain; but as the founder apply the Earl Leininger, lay on whose land Erfenstein. Presumably, the castle served to secure the extended Leiningen forests in the area.
1272 reported a first instrument of a ministeriales Bock of Erfenstein, who came from the lower nobility in Leiningerland and lived with his family the castle. An obvious descendant, Siegfried Bock of Erfenstein were awarded in 1439 in the town of Dirmstein by deed certain rights.
About inheritance and divisions, the castle belonged alternately two lines of Leininger, Leiningen- Hard castle and Leiningen- Rixingen. In Rixingen the castle remained, along with the village Esthal to 1345, after which it was converted into a Ganerbenburg. After many disputes among the co-owners of the castle in 1415 came to the Counts of Sponheim. As their family died, the property was returned to Leiningen- Hard castle.
Historical background of the legend is that the two fortresses always belonged to different masters - Spangenberg initially the Prince-Bishop of Speyer and Erfenstein as mentioned the Leiningern - and correspondingly competition were to each other. Later had changed owners, it finally came in 1470 during the White Burger feud between Elector Frederick I of the Palatinate and his cousin, Duke Ludwig I of Pfalz- Zweibrücken, the mutual destruction of both castles, first of Erfenstein, then Spangenberg. Erfenstein has since ruin.
Description
Erfenstein consists of two parts Old and New Erfenstein Erfenstein. From the earlier system which is above of New Erfenstein, is as good as anything except get the almost completely backfilled with rubble moat and - on an eight -meter-high rock - some rough stone once a square keep.
The deeper younger plant is dominated by a very well-preserved keep, whose input is high on the east side. In addition, the remains of a circular wall are present. Rectangular cavities, which were intended for receiving the ends of wooden beams, indicate a division of stories. Old and New - Erfenstein are separated by another moat. At the foot of the sandstone rock with New Erfenstein was formerly a sub- Castle, are to be discovered by the even less remnant.
In contrast to the opposing castle Spangenberg the system is up to the remains of the castle in a bad condition. Measures to ensure the stocks in the area of the upper castle and the two neck trenches are offered. Vegetation as well as climbing the rocks and ruins by visitors, especially the tower stump of the upper castle, contribute to the rapid decline of the plant.