Bourscheid Castle
Bourscheid Castle | ||
---|---|---|
Creation time : | around 1000 | |
Castle type : | Hilltop castle | |
Conservation status: | Received or received substantial parts | |
Standing position : | Seat of the Lords of Bourscheid | |
Place: | Burscheid | |
Geographical location | 49 ° 54 '19.3 " N , 6 ° 4' 46.8" E | |
Height: | 379.8 m | |
|
The Bourscheid Castle is the ruins of a medieval castle about two kilometers below the same place Burscheid in northern Luxembourg .
location
The hilltop castle stands on a ledge surrounded by the Sauer . Its highest point is 379.8 meters above sea level. Originally intended as a refuge for the inhabitants of the village of the same name, the castle developed into a strategic military position for the Count of Luxembourg due to its location.
history
Bourscheid Castle is mentioned for the first time in 1095 as the property of Bertram von Bourscheid. Bertram was Vogt of the Echternach Abbey and managed the castle on their behalf. The first document describes the removal of Bertram because he "has spread his wings too much". Some written sources as well as the archaeological excavations from 1986 to 1992 indicate that the stone castle was built around the year 1000 instead of an older wooden fortification . Until 1512 the Lords of Bourscheid owned the castle. They were found in the highest positions in the retinue of the Count of Luxembourg .
Bernhard IV von Bourscheid bequeathed the rule of Bourscheid to his two sisters Maria von dem Weiher zu Nickenich and Wilhelma von der Neuerburg . Numerous co-owners of the Metternich-Zievel, Zant von Merl, Ahr and Schwartzenburg families thus owned the rulership. In 1626 Hans Gerhard von Metternich combined all shares in his hand and bequeathed them to three more generations of his family until his great-grandson Hugo Franz Wolf von Metternich sold the rule to Demoiselle Constance de Mathelin de Rolley for financial reasons in 1753. Metternich's niece Maria Theresia von Eltz-Rodendorf sued this act of purchase, whereupon she was awarded a total of 4/5 in 1762. In 1795 Maria Theresa was able to acquire the remaining fifth. After the auction in 1812, the complex fell into disrepair until the Luxembourg state bought the ruins in 1972.
investment
The castle walls enclose an area of 12,000 square meters. The castle complex is therefore the largest in Luxembourg in terms of area.
The castle is divided into an upper castle, lower castle and outer castle . The upper castle was built between 1000 and 1300. It contains the imposing keep , the palace building with the knight's hall and the apartments of Lord von Bourscheid, the kitchen and the chapel , which was last expanded in the 17th century. Today, apart from the keep and the cellar under the palace, only ruins remain.
In the 14th century the lower castle was expanded and received a double curtain wall with a kennel and six towers. In 1384, after the new curtain wall was completed, the so-called Stolzemburger House was also built. The Gothic cellar of this house was able to be kept in its original condition and can still be visited today. Two other Burgmannen houses only exist as ruins.
The castle has belonged to the State of Luxembourg since 1972 and is administered by the Amis du Château de Bourscheid (German: Friends of Burg Bourscheid ).