Esslingen Castle
The so-called castle in Esslingen am Neckar is a preserved part of the medieval city fortifications , which is located above the former and present city center.
history
With the elevation to the city by Friedrich II. In 1219 Esslingen was probably protected by walls for the first time. But only Rudolf von Habsburg connected the outpost on the Schönenberg in 1286 and 1287 with the city fortifications with two side walls. A third side wall followed in the 14th century.
From 1519 to 1531 the complex was expanded with a castle walkway as well as a rampart and moat on the city side. The fortification withstood the attack of Duke Ulrich von Württemberg in 1519 , who tried to take the imperial city of Esslingen after Reutlingen . The Big Tower was built in 1525, followed by the Mélac House in 1529. In 1688 a woman from Esslingen is said to have sacrificed herself to the French general in this little house in order to save her hometown; the attempt failed, however, and Mélac caused considerable damage.
The thick tower and the 18th century Hochwacht are connected by a rope walkway.
In 1887 the thick tower was given a spire based on the model of the Nuremberg towers. For the city's jubilee in 1977, the facility was largely renovated; In 1981 the renovated powder tower was made accessible.
Preserved buildings
A large part of the facility is freely accessible and is used in summer as a stage for open-air cinema screenings, etc. Drinking water reservoirs are located under the lawns and playgrounds north of the actual facility.
From the north, you enter the castle complex from the outer castle square over a bridge between the cannon hump on the left and the younger farm buildings with the castle tavern on the right. From the cannon hump on the left one has an overview of the whole complex. Between the cannon hump and the powder tower is a pharmacy garden with a fountain and sundial; the Powder Tower itself could temporarily be accessed from the castle moat and through a casemate corridor and a newly built spiral staircase, but it is currently closed (as of 2012). A wall with numerous vistas has been preserved between the Powder Tower and the Thick Tower.
The Big Tower, the landmark of the city of Esslingen, was used as a restaurant until December 2011. It has since been closed to the public.
The Big Tower and the Hochwacht are connected by the Seilergang, from which one has a beautiful view of the city center; Next to the Dicken Turm is the passage to the Burgsteige, which leads between vineyards down to the Kaisheimer Pflegehof and the Esslingen market square. The continuation of the Seilergang forms the only publicly accessible side wall with the castle staggered . This way you get to the lower end of the street Obere Beutau and thus also to the market square. The fortification wall between Hochwacht and Mélac-Häuschen stands over a steep slope with gardens and houses. Another side wall, which is not open to the public, leads down from the Mélac house next to the castle tavern.
View from the cannon hump to the Hochwacht
View into the powder tower
Passage under the Seilergang to Burgsteige with a view of the old town
Burgsteige
Thick tower and part of the rope passage (right)
Rope walk
The high watch and part of the castle squad
Castle relay from the city side
Mélac house and part of the inaccessible side wall
Wall details on another round tower near the Melac house
A photo by Karl Liebhardt from 1897: View from the city to the castle
.jpg)
literature
- Burghard Lohrum: The Esslinger Burgstaffel. Building research as the basis for a renovation concept. In: Preservation of Monuments in Baden-Württemberg , Volume 37, 2008, Issue 3, pp. 134-139 ( PDF )
- 3D model of the "Esslinger Burg" ( 3D model )
Coordinates: 48 ° 44 ′ 41.8 " N , 9 ° 18 ′ 33.6" E