Veste Oberhaus

Veste upper house is a fortress on the left bank of the Danube, opposite the right-side town of Passau. Founded in 1219, it was for most of the castle and residence of the Prince Bishop of the Bishopric of Passau. The highly visible inscription in 1499 on the facade shows only one of the model years of 1800 to again and again extended the castle.

History

The construction of the fortress of the upper house on the Georgsberg via Passau dated to the year 1219. It was built by Prince-Bishop of Passau first Ulrich II to an already existing George's Chapel. The castle should be an expression of military power and the same time, support for the 1217 acquired Imperial Prince Bishops of Passau. Furthermore, it should serve as protection against external and internal enemies, including against citizens of Passau, who wanted to build an imperial city.

Due to the ongoing siege technique, the fort was continually expanded over the centuries and expanded, so it offers the possibility to study the Fortifikationskunst from the 13th to the 19th century. The major reconstruction took place under the Prince Bishops of Leonhard Layming, Christoph von Schachner, Urban separation of Bach and Johann Philipp von Lamberg. They built the fortress of a Gothic stronghold, a royal residence in the early Renaissance, a " Fixed High Castle " and finally, in times of the Turkish threat to a representative state fortress.

The Veste Upper House experienced five sieges 1250-1482, which remained all unsuccessful. Twice, in 1298 and 1367, it was the citizens of Passau, who tried to rise up against the bishop.

Between 1535 and 1540 the fortress of numerous supporters of the Reformed Baptist movement were imprisoned for their beliefs in the dungeons. During her detention, the paragon (Hymns ), a hymn-book, which is still used today in the services of the Amish originated. Some of the songs poet died in detention time, many suffered following the prison stay martyred.

With the secularization of 1802, the Bishop lost possession. Napoleon I used the fortress in his campaign against Austria. It was released to the ally Bavaria as a border fortress against Austria. 1805 was the stronghold of the Austrian army. After the Congress of Vienna it was used for almost a century by the Bavarian army both as a fortress and from 1822 as a state prison for political prisoners and as a military prison. Until 1918, the Veste upper house was thus the dreaded " Bastille of Bavaria".

The city of Passau in 1932 came into the possession of the plant and established the Upper House Museum.

Facilities

The upper house museum includes City Museum, Art Gallery and other collections with a focus on Eastern Bavaria and the neighboring lands of Bohemia and Austria. The Baroque fortification apron was replaced in 1934 by the Nazis through the first Thing of the Third Reich (designed by Ludwig Moshamer ). The castle still houses next to a restaurant, observation tower in the so-called observation tower from the 18th century, an observatory and a youth hostel in the so-called General building of 1597th

Specifications

The plant is perched 105 meters above the valley on the St. George Mountain, between the Danube and Ilz and is protected by steep slopes on both sides. Below the river and connected by a parapet is the Veste Lower House. From the Ilzseite leads up a paved road to the castle.

From the Schanzl over the Danube to reach the castle on foot over the top Hausleiten - stairs. The Ravelintor at the entrance of the plant with the coat of arms of Cardinal Johann Philipp von Lamberg is from 1703. Behind it lies the baroque Kronwerk, an applied 1674-1740 Wall zone. The underlying second defense zone comes mainly from the 16th century. From the central attachment ring the castle road leads to the main guard passing over the bridge into the actual main castle. The gate tower at the entrance shows the emblem of the Prince-Bishop Leonard of Laiming of 1440th The buildings around the outer courtyard from the 16th century. Inside the courtyard of the castle church of St. George stands with Early and High Gothic frescoes; she is still older date than the castle itself in Schachnerbau of 1500, is attached to the outside, the most visible emblem and year - fresco of 1499, is located in the upper floor of the prestigious Knight's Hall, by an open arcade with Dürnitz and Fürstentrakt from the 14th to the 17th centuries is connected. In the lower floor of the building located Schachner gun batteries.

The so-called battery Linde, an area surrounded by walls terrace of the Citadel House of Lords, provides a good vantage point on the Dreiflüsseeck between the Inn, Danube and Ilz: here are the different colors of the three rivers can be seen clearly.