Windeck Castle (Weinheim)
Burg Windeck
The Windeck Castle is a ruined hilltop castle on the Schlossberg ( 220.5 m above sea level. NN ) in Weinheim in the Rhein- Neckar-Kreis in Baden- Württemberg.
Location
The preserved today only a ruin castle Windeck is a popular destination, which is accessible both by car and via a footpath from Weinheim. The climb takes about half an hour for beginners and then continues over the guard castle in the mountain scenery of the Neckar -Odenwald.
History
The previous castle was built around 1110 to protect the possessions of the monastery of Lorsch. However, since the Schlossberg belonged to the provost Michel town, the castle was destroyed in 1114 for the first time. The after 1125 built on the remains of the earlier building to around 1130 the castle was but then at the end of the independence of the monastery Lorsch 1232 a bone of contention Archbishop of Mainz and the Palatinate, which should share the possession of the monastery. Windeck first came to the county palatine, but then underwent several changes between the Archbishopric of Mainz and the Count Palatine, before this in 1264 ( according to other sources 1344) finally came into the possession of the castle. The castle was not feudal possession of a noble family, but secured only by men castle and managed. The places Oberflockenbach, stone blades, custom Michel Bach, Holy Cross, Rittenweier, ribs Weier (now all parts of Weinheim) and the waste were obliged castle and crew entertain.
(Published 1645) On the Merian engraving from 1620, the castle is still intact and survived the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War tolerably, but had to be repaired in 1663.
The end of the castle came with the 1674, when it was plundered and destroyed by the French under General Turenne. The troops of the French King Louis XIV made the castle so useless as a defense. She was subsequently considered uninhabitable. The ruins now served the Weinheimer citizens as a quarry for the reconstruction of their homes.
1803 Burg Windeck went into the possession of the State of Baden, which they sold in 1900 to the Count and Baron von Berckheim ( which in Weinheim already the castle belonged ). Count of Berckheim allowed secure the masonry and partially restore. Since 1978 she is the castle is owned by the town of Weinheim, which is now carried out further extensive security measures.
Description
From the installation of the 12th century is hardly receive anything. The castle ruins (most parts probably from the 14th century ) is a compact building with gatehouse, the 28 meter high keep, probably also from the 14th century (the older donjon is centered in the plant suspected), former palace and courtyard, where in summer a beer garden is located. In the floor of the keep is the fear hole, the entrance to eleven meters deep dungeon.
From the top of the turret you can enjoy a beautiful view of the castle guard, the town of Weinheim, the mountain road and the Rhine Valley.