Blankenberg Castle (Thuringia)
| Blankenberg Castle | ||
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 Model of the Blankenberg Castle |
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| Alternative name (s): | Planckenberg, Old Castle | |
| Creation time : | Mentioned in 1192 | |
| Castle type : | Höhenburg, spur location | |
| Conservation status: | Restored remains | |
| Place: | Blankenberg | |
| Geographical location | 50 ° 24 '3.4 " N , 11 ° 42' 54.8" E | |
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The Castle Blankenberg , also Planck Mountain and Old Palace , was called a castle on a south-facing mountain ridge just south of the village center of Blankenberg (Schlossberg 1) in today Saale-Orla in Thuringia . The Spornburg originally belonged to a series of security fortresses on the Saale , was originally an imperial fiefdom and then had different owners over the centuries.
Blankenberg castle ruins
Archway to the tournament site
history
Origins in the Middle Ages
The origin of the castles along the Saale is disputed among historians. The assumption that it was built as a fortress against the Sorbs is considered absurd. A major von Herzberg's assumption is more likely, based on tactical considerations and the creation of castles on the upper Saale at the time of the fighting between the Staufers and Guelphs . The Egerland was most endangered by an attack by the Guelphs , an important factor in the domestic and imperial politics of the Hohenstaufen. To protect him, Emperor Friedrich I created the Vogtland between the Saale and Mulde , which in the west and north-west formed a strong obstacle in the steeply sloping Saale valley. For this purpose, the castles on the right bank of the Upper Saale were probably built on the orders of the emperor. The left flank of the main line of defense was secured by the upper hall when the river crossings were closed.
In the 13th century, the bailiffs of Weida, Gera and Plauen are named as owners of the castle, mentioned in 1192, as well as Emperor Karl IV in 1371 .
Modern times
With the beginning of modern times, the castle, like all castles, had lost its original purpose as a fortification. Like many castles, Blankenberg Castle was redesigned inside and out like a castle over the years by the owners . The result was a residential building with rounded corners, it had Romanesque masonry that had been poorly restored in recent times. The towering main building was made of slate and lay on a rock that was separated from the rest of the site by a still visible ditch . Externally, seven massive buttresses dominated and the basement only had slits and notches. Only the upper floors had windows. The outer areas formed a large courtyard for the management of the manor. For the castle residents, the Sunday service took place in the castle chapel belonging to the castle .
Demolition and securing of the structural remains
Until the end of the Second World War , the castle's imposing structure remained almost unchanged. In connection with the expropriations through the land reform, the Soviet occupying power issued Order No. 209 in 1947 , which included the demolition of expropriated noble houses. On June 14, 1948, the Old Castle , as it was popularly known, was blown up after a history of over 700 years.
Until the political turnaround in 1989, the heap of rubble was almost forgotten. Only at the beginning of the 1990s did committed citizens come together and since 1995 have uncovered the remains of the castle under expert guidance. The tournament area with the newly built gate is clearly visible again. The retaining walls were partly rebuilt; a palace garden with a pavilion was created. The cross vault of the manor building was restored and a small collection of finds from the excavations was set up there. In 2007, on the occasion of the 775th anniversary, a 1:10 scale model of the castle was set up on a roundabout at the foot of the ruin.
literature
- Michael Köhler: Thuringian castles and fortified prehistoric and early historical living spaces . 2nd expanded and revised edition. Jenzig-Verlag, Jena 2003, ISBN 3-910141-56-0 , p. 72.
Individual evidence
- ^ Entry on Blankenberg Castle in the private database "Alle Burgen".
