Old Castle (Rotenhain)
| Alte Burg zu Rotenhain | ||
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| Alternative name (s): | Old castle to Rotzenhahn | |
| Creation time : | around 1250 to 1300 | |
| Castle type : | Niederungsburg, moth | |
| Conservation status: | Castle stable, foundation walls, moat, well | |
| Construction: | Truss | |
| Place: | Rotenhain | |
| Geographical location | 50 ° 35 '54.5 " N , 7 ° 52' 28.1" E | |
| Height: | 475 m above sea level NHN | |
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The Old Castle in Rotenhain even Alteburg to Rotzenhahn called, is an Outbound Turmhügelburg (Motte) in Westerwald ( Westerwaldkreis ) in Rhineland-Palatinate .
The complex dates from the second half of the 13th century. The foundation walls (15 × 16 meters), the six meter deep well , the two to three meter wide moat and the two meter high embankment have been preserved. The well, which works on the reverse coffee filter principle, is still functional. The completely bricked structure - including the ground - is surrounded by a mixture of clay and fine sand, which acts as a filter for all pollutants from the groundwater. This means that the well water is so clear that you can see the bottom with direct light. Its location near an important trade route suggests that it should serve as a customs post.
Excavations between 1997 and 2000 revealed interesting details about the construction of small castles. In addition to the well construction technique mentioned, the treasury with remains of the castle treasure was also found: grain (preserved as ash). The real wealth was the harvest. To protect it from moisture and rot, the floor was exposed to intense heat during the construction phase, so that it was glazed and turned pink. So the grain stayed dry even in the wet and cold season. In addition, numerous pottery shards and animal bones were added. While no further information is known about the castle, few reliable statements can be made on the basis of the excavation: Compared to other explored castles of this type, the castle was of above-average quality. It was not occupied for long, however, and it was not forcibly conquered and destroyed, but after it was surrendered it was torn down to the ground.
But their uniqueness lies in the reconstruction. After all, it is a very important type of weir system for this region because it is more common (the next ruin was found 2–3 km away near Alpenrod on a private field). The Rotenhain association “Historica” pulled the building back up to its original dimensions with a lot of work. Although emphasis was placed on commercial use, anyone who wants to get a vivid idea of the appearance of a late medieval moth of the Westerwald cannot ignore this building.
Excavation site
Excavation work
Front view
Web links
- Entry on the old castle in the scientific database " EBIDAT " of the European Castle Institute
- The old castle on historica-rotenhain.de
