Electoral Castle (Boppard)

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Electoral castle
Electoral Castle in Boppard (2016)

Electoral Castle in Boppard (2016)

Alternative name (s): Old castle, Balduinsburg
Creation time : 13th to 17th centuries
Castle type : Niederungsburg
Conservation status: essential parts received
Place: Boppard
Geographical location 50 ° 13 '57.6 "  N , 7 ° 35' 37.2"  E Coordinates: 50 ° 13 '57.6 "  N , 7 ° 35' 37.2"  E
Electoral Castle (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Electoral castle

The Electoral Castle , also known as the Old Castle , is a high medieval castle in Boppard in Rhineland-Palatinate and was part of the medieval city fortifications of Boppard . Richard of Cornwall laid the foundation stone in 1265 . After Boppard was pledged to the Electorate of Trier, it became the property of Baldwin of Luxembourg . The castle is also called Balduinsburg after him . Originally, historiography assumed that Baldwin of Luxembourg had only started building the castle. Until the 17th century, the castle was expanded by the Trier electors into a four-wing complex.

location

Remains of the northeast tower from the Roman fort

The electoral castle is a low castle . It is located in the old town of Boppard directly on the Rhine . The square south of the castle is now called Burgplatz. In the immediate vicinity of the castle are the remains of the north-eastern tower of the former Roman fort Bodobrica . Burgstrasse runs to the west and Ablaßgasse to the east, past the castle. The castle was thus located at the intersection of the city center, which has been walled since Roman times, and the fortification of the upper town that took place in the course of the 13th century .

history

In the period from June 2003 to March 2005, building historical studies were carried out on the electoral castle on behalf of the city of Boppard in cooperation with the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments in Rhineland-Palatinate. These allow a largely reliable description of the building history, which deviates significantly from the current state of research.

Construction of the Electoral Customs Castle

According to the findings of historical architectural studies from 2003 to 2005, the king was probably Richard of Cornwall during the interregnum to 1265 in the independent town of Boppard a dungeon built. Older literature consistently assumed that the keep was only built shortly after the town of Boppard was pledged to the Elector and Archbishop of Trier Baldwin of Luxembourg . In the pledge deed to Boppard and Oberwesel from 1312, however, several castles can be read, which can only be explained by the presence of the keep.

After Boppard was pledged to Baldwin of Luxembourg, he tried to expand his supremacy on the Rhine. Already at this time the keep was expanded to secure the Rhine toll. The citizens of Boppard tried to defend themselves against foreign rule. After a brief siege in 1327, Baldwin subdued the city. To secure his rule over Boppard and to secure his income from the Rhine toll, he had the electoral castle expanded into a fortress and toll castle and integrated into the city ​​fortifications of Boppard . It was for this purpose that the XVII corner tower of the Boppard Roman fort was demolished. After 1335, an elongated building was added to the west of the keep, which has been added to today's west wing. This wing of the building had a stepped gable facing the Rhine and a southwest corner tower. The customs administration was probably located there. The Elector of Trier had taken over the Boppard customs since 1314, but was not the most important customs officer in Boppard until 1331. This was probably the reason for the cultivation. Later the customs house was extended to the north towards the Rhine.

The tower was not extended to a height of four storeys until the second half of the 14th century under Balduin's successor Kuno von Falkenstein or Werner von Falkenstein . This is shown by the painted coats of arms in the tower chapel. The residential tower (former keep) was equipped with a cast core and four corner turrets. In addition, a moat twelve meters wide and six meters deep was dug around the Niederungsburg , which separated the castle from the city. The customs house to the west of the castle was probably also built in the 14th century.

The Boppard War at the end of the 15th century

Site plan of the Boppard War of 1497
Ground floor plan from 1788
View from the Rhine to the castle around 1800 - drawing by N. Schlad

In 1495, at the Diet of Worms, King Maximilian I removed the city from the rule of the Elector of Trier. When Maximilian revised this in 1497, the citizens of Boppard stormed the electoral castle in the so-called Boppard War under the leadership of the knight von Schwalbach. The Trier customs house went up in flames. Johann von Baden , the Elector of Trier, then approached with 12,000 men and fire guns and besieged the city from Marienberg Monastery . After a few weeks of siege, Boppard surrendered. During the repair work in 1498, a beamed ceiling was probably installed over the ground floor in the northern part of the castle and a pent roof was added. After a fire in 1499, the castle was rebuilt. In this context, the two round towers towards the city were probably added.

Expansion of the castle in the 17th century

The castle was further expanded to its present form in the second half of the 17th century under the Electors Karl Kaspar von der Leyen and Johann Hugo von Orsbeck . Around 1661 a new wing was added to the west of the old customs house. This is largely preserved in today's northwest wing. In 1672 the west wing was completely changed. Its east wall was laid down and replaced by the current one, the post windows probably date from this time and the passage in the west wing was given a portal on both sides, whereby the portal in the west facade was designed much more elaborately. At the same time, the south wing was also built and connected to the west wing. This was also given a round tower at its southeastern end, the shape of which was modeled on the Gothic tower on the southwestern side. In 1687 the west wing was given a gable roof.

Presumably as a result of destruction in the Palatinate War of Succession , the castle was expanded in 1689. An elongated north wing was built in 1694, incorporating the older wing of the building and the residential tower. This received a new roof made of horizontal chair constructions. A ballroom was built on the upper floor of the wing and in 1695 and 1698, respectively, it was given a pavilion-like corner tower at the western and eastern end, which is attributed to the Electorate of Trier architect Johann Christoph Sebastiani .

Shortly after the construction of the eastern part of the north wing, the east wing was built between this and the south wing in 1698. This was flush with the building and for the first time led to a closed four-wing system. In this context, the beam ceiling between the first and second floors was renewed in the south wing in 1700. Also in 1698 a hanging dungeon was built into the keep. In addition, stucco ceilings were produced in numerous rooms, especially on the first floor.

Changing use of the castle from the 18th to the 20th century

Old castle with Burgplatz around 1885

In 1788 the castle, which served as an official cellar and customs office, received an apartment for the administrator. From 1794 French revolutionary troops occupied the area on the left bank of the Rhine and with it the town of Boppard for about 20 years. During this time they razed the fortifications and tore a breach in the north wing of the castle. This breakthrough is known today as the "French breach". In addition, the French set up a warehouse and a hospital in the castle.

From 1810 the city gendarmerie was located in the north wing. In the following year, 1811, the baroque lantern hoods of the corner towers disappeared and the steep roof of the residential tower was replaced by a low pyramid helmet. In 1818 the state built a penal institution in the castle, but it was closed again in 1821 and in 1831 the castle was divided into an urban part in the south and a state part in the Rhine wing. In the state part, the tax administration and the peace court were accommodated, and in 1833 the gauge with which the water level of the Rhine is measured at Boppard was accommodated in the northwest tower. This is still there today. In 1835 the city transferred the eastern wing of the tax administration and received rental payments of 20 thalers per year. In the years from 1840 to 1846 the moat was filled in and the three-arched bridge demolished.

In 1950 the city of Boppard had the wall paintings in the tower chapel rediscovered by Nick van Clotten in 1910 restored by the painters Paul Geßner and Walter Dick from Wasenbach . In the following year 1951 the city museum was housed in the electoral castle. The Boppard District Court, which emerged from the former peace court, was dissolved on February 1, 1975. The Boppard police station was located in the north and west wings until the 1990s, and was then relocated to a new building. The exterior plaster on the building wings facing the city was renewed in 1974. The exterior plastering of the Rhine wing was renewed in 1978 and 1979.

Renovation work in the first half of the 21st century

The Rhine facade with the French breach in 2004
The Rhine facade in 2005 before renovation
The Burgplatz after the renovation

In 1999, planning began for the preservation and energetic renovation of the electoral castle. As part of the preparations for the repair work, historical building studies were carried out from June 2003 to March 2005 in cooperation with the State Office for Monument Preservation of Rhineland-Palatinate. According to a draft plan from 2009, the complete renovation, restoration and interior design would have cost around 13.5 million euros. As a result of the economic stimulus package I , the federal government and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate each committed EUR 2.9 million in funding. The planning was then revised in order to reduce the costs to around 8.7 million euros. The remaining 2.9 million euros should be taken over by the city of Boppard. Work that can be carried out without scaffolding and a crane and that does not affect the statics of the building has been put on the back burner, and savings have been made in the cost of interior fittings. Construction work began that same year and, according to the plan, should be completed in 2013.

By December 2011, the public toilet facility in the area of ​​the "Franzosenbresche" was demolished and other technical systems such as heating and other sanitary facilities were dismantled. The installation of the new systems began in mid-2012. In cooperation with the monument authority , disruptive and not listed walls as well as concrete fillings on wooden beam ceilings were removed in 2011. The tuff masonry, the wall crown and the roof were restored on the tower . In addition, cracks were repaired and the top floor of the tower received new windows. In the north wing, rooms were restored and facade, roofing and lightning protection work was carried out and the prerequisites for mobile flood protection were created. The window frames, which were last painted red, were painted with gray silicate paint and black contour lines based on historical findings, the painted corner blocks on the keep and on the Rhine wing emphasize the original contours of the castle.

Modern glass cube in the "Franzosenbresche"

The "French breach" was retained as a historical intervention in the building and made visible towards the Rhine through a glass cube in which the elevator, stairs, cash register and cloakroom were housed. The glass joint, which is illuminated at night, allows views into the inner courtyard and, from inside, wide views over the Rhine. The outer contour of the eastern corner pavilion was recognizable again and the unified appearance was restored in its area by restoring the roof of the Rhine facade.

A topping-out ceremony for the electoral castle was celebrated on September 29, 2012. On December 18, 2012, the public was informed that the remaining construction work would take longer and will be more expensive than planned. The former police garages in the south wing were heavily contaminated. Therefore the floors of the south wing had to be removed and renewed. This also made it necessary to carry out repair work on the exterior plaster of the south wing. Only then did it become apparent that the vault, including the transverse walls in the area of ​​the new technical and social room, sheared off the facade and was therefore in danger of collapsing. In addition, expenses for the interior design of the catering area, which were deleted from the planning at the beginning, are necessary. Overall, the construction costs were estimated at around 10 million euros at that time.

Exhibition room with a Cologne ceiling .

After further cost increases, disputes between the city council majority and the mayor Walter Bersch and an interim construction stop, the electoral castle and the museum of Boppard city history located there were reopened on October 10, 2015. The construction costs are (as of 2016) estimated at 13.5 million euros. In July 2015, the city council commissioned an external law firm to support the city audit committee in assessing the costs incurred for the electoral castle. The Audit Committee had previously discovered irregularities in its audit of the 2011 financial statements. The discharge of the mayor for the years 2011 to 2015 are still pending (as of May 2016). In the report prepared by the law firm, the mayor and the city administration were accused of having placed illegal orders worth millions.

At the end of 2015, the area around the Electoral Castle began to be redesigned, in particular the Burgplatz and the section between the Rhine and the Castle. These construction measures are expected to cost a further 2.6 million euros. The city of Boppard will bear a third of the costs. During this work, a vault bridge was discovered in May 2016. This used to lead over the moat and made the castle accessible from the city.

Description of the plant

Ground floor plan
Floor plan of the first floor
Floor plan of the second floor
Floor plan of the third floor of the tower

Structural structure

The electoral castle is a fort castle . Its rectangular, four-winged complex surrounds an inner courtyard. The keep is partially integrated into the north wing and has five floors above the vaulted cellar. There are two round corner towers on the south side of the castle and two tower-like corner floors are integrated into the north wing. This Rhine-side tract has an extension to the west the width of the former moat.

The interior of the keep

The five-storey keep stands over a barrel-vaulted cellar accessible from the courtyard . There is a large room with a flat beamed ceiling on each floor. The lower two floors can be reached via the north wing, the upper floors are connected by a spiral staircase in the tower. Chimney shafts rise in the north part of the west wall. In the other three sides of the tower there are windows in deep, arched sloping embrasures. On the third floor there is a large fireplace adorned with a coat of arms and the castle chapel was housed on the fourth attic . From the attic (the so-called Söller floor) one had access to the so-called hanging dungeon in the northwest corner , which extended far into the chapel floor below. In reality, however, this was likely used as an emergency food store.

Castle chapel with frescoes

The castle chapel was housed on the fourth floor of the keep in what was probably originally a separate room measuring around 265 × 240 cm² . In the east wall there is a round arched recess that jumps into the room and was created as an altar. To the right of it is a small storage niche with a pointed gable end in the east wall.

In 1910, Nick van Clotten discovered medieval frescoes in the wall area of ​​the castle chapel . This closed wall painting from the late 14th century was uncovered in 1910/1911. At that time it was only very damaged. Both of the outer walls of the chapel were covered over their entire width. The frescoes begin 20 cm above the floor and go up to a height of 265 cm.

The fresco on the altar niche depicts the Last Judgment . In the center against a blue background, Christ is depicted in the mandorla . He is enthroned on a rainbow. Below are the symbols of the four evangelists on a red background. There are three apostles on each side, of which Peter with the key is recognizable on the inside left side and the apostle Bartholomäus on the right outside . In the spandrels of the altar niche, hovering angels waving incense barrels are depicted. On the right under a crab-covered nose arch is a kneeling bishop, who is identified as a Falkensteiner by the painted coat of arms above the storage niche .

St. Lawrence is depicted with his grate under a canopy . The base band in the altar area consists of alternating green and red horizontal stripes on a white background. Rows of blue circles with eagles and lions are painted on it. On the sides of the sepulcrum under the east window are two Falkensteiner coats of arms adorned with a helmet.

Todays use

Today the castle contains the City Museum with a collection on the history of Boppard and the history of the castle itself. Another focus is a permanent exhibition on the famous son of the city Michael Thonet with his bentwood furniture . In addition, the premises are used for changing art exhibitions and other cultural events.

Monument protection

The electoral castle is protected as a registered cultural monument within the meaning of the Monument Protection and Maintenance Act (DSchG) of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Investigations and targeted collection of finds are subject to approval, and accidental finds are reported to the monument authorities. In addition, this building has been part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002 .

literature

  • Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine (= Rheinische Kunststätten . Heft 570). Rhenish Association for Monument Preservation and Landscape Protection, Cologne 2019, ISBN 978-3-86526-128-1 .
  • Lorenz Frank: Boppard Castle on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces . Journal for Castle Research and Monument Preservation. Volume 46, No. 4, 2005, ISSN  0007-6201 , pp. 226-235.
  • Michael P. Fuhr: Who wants to be the keeper of the river? 40 castles and palaces on the Middle Rhine. 2nd Edition. Schnell + Steiner, Regensburg 2005, ISBN 3-7954-1460-1 , pp. 56–57.
  • Boppard Castle. Issue No. 3/2015 of the magazine Burgen und Schlösser. Journal for Castle Research and Monument Preservation , published by the German Castle Association , Sept. 2015, with ten articles by various authors on the renovation of Boppard Castle (pages 130 to 208).

Web links

Commons : Alte Burg Boppard  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (ed.): The art monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate . tape 8 : The art monuments of the Rhein-Hunsrück district. Part 2. Former county St. Goar, the first town of Boppard I. . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich / Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-422-00567-6 , p. 403 .
  2. ↑ Michael Koelges: From the ancient collection to the district museum . In: Local history working group of the traffic and beautification association Boppard (Hrsg.): Around Boppard Journal . No. 59 . Boppard ( online [accessed December 15, 2012]). online ( Memento of the original dated November 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.museum-boppard.de
  3. ^ A b State Office for Monument Preservation (ed.): The art monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate . tape 8 : The art monuments of the Rhein-Hunsrück district. Part 2. Former county St. Goar, the first town of Boppard I. . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich / Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-422-00567-6 , p. 405 .
  4. ^ A b Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, p. 226.
  5. ^ A b c Lorenz Frank: Historical building research . In: Renovation and redesign of the Electoral Castle Boppard . Berlin 2004 ( online ). Online ( Memento of the original from November 11, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.museum-boppard.de
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h State Office for Monument Preservation (Ed.): The art monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate . tape 8 : The art monuments of the Rhein-Hunsrück district. Part 2. Former county St. Goar, the first town of Boppard I. . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich / Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-422-00567-6 , p. 404-405 .
  7. ↑ Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, pp. 226-227.
  8. ↑ a b c d Electoral Castle. Institute for Historical Regional Studies at the University of Mainz eV, accessed on December 11, 2012 .
  9. ↑ Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, p. 228.
  10. ↑ Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, p. 229.
  11. ^ A b Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, p. 232.
  12. ↑ Jan Meißner: The Boppard Castle . In: Renovation and redesign of the Electoral Castle Boppard . Berlin 2004 ( online ). Online ( Memento of the original from November 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.museum-boppard.de
  13. ↑ Lorenz Frank: The castle in Boppard on the Rhine - New research results on building history. In: Castles and Palaces. 46th year 2005, pp. 232-233.
  14. ↑ Federal Minister of Construction promotes Electoral Castle in Boppard. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on May 28, 2016 ; accessed on May 28, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mehr-hunsrueck.de
  15. ↑ Boppard level becomes visible. Retrieved May 9, 2014 .
  16. ↑ History Association for the Middle Rhine and Vorderhunsrück e. V. (Hrsg.): The old Boppard - in pictures by Nikolaus Schlad and texts by Wilhelm Schlad . Rhenania-Verlag, Koblenz 1983, ISBN 3-922755-14-3 , p. 58 .
  17. ^ Wilhelm Becker: The Boppard Castle and its frescoes . In: Alexander Stollenwerk (ed.): Boppard am Rhein - A home book . Harald Boldt Verlag, Boppard 1968, p. 74 .
  18. ↑ a b Session template for the city council meeting on June 20, 2011. (PDF; 4.2 MB) pp. 35–40 , accessed on December 13, 2012 .
  19. ↑ a b c d Session template for the city council meeting on December 17, 2012. (PDF; 6.5 MB) pp. 14–19 , accessed on December 13, 2012 .
  20. ↑ a b c Museum in the "Electoral Castle". City of Boppard, accessed December 13, 2012 .
  21. ^ Walter Bersch : Boppard particularly successful in the world heritage program. Retrieved December 13, 2012 .
  22. ↑ City council decides to redesign Säuerlingstrasse and Flogtstrasse with mountain-side access to Boppard main station. City of Boppard, December 18, 2012, accessed December 19, 2012 .
  23. ^ ADD President Dagmar Barzen visits the Electoral Castle. Retrieved May 28, 2016 .
  24. ↑ State Secretary for Culture suggests invitation: Will Prince Charles visit Boppard Castle? (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 21, 2017 ; accessed on May 28, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.rhein-zeitung.de
  25. ↑ Budget 2011: Discharge of the mayor postponed. (PDF) Retrieved May 28, 2016 .
  26. ↑ Unlawful award of construction contracts in Boppard. (PDF) Retrieved May 28, 2016 .
  27. ↑ Make the environment attractive. (PDF) Retrieved May 28, 2016 .
  28. ↑ Archaeological sensation at the castle . In: All about Boppard . No. 20 , 2016, p. 1 .
  29. ^ State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (ed.): The art monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate . tape 8 : The art monuments of the Rhein-Hunsrück district. Part 2. Former county St. Goar, the first town of Boppard I. . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich / Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-422-00567-6 , p. 413 .
  30. ^ A b c d State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (ed.): The art monuments of Rhineland-Palatinate . tape 8 : The art monuments of the Rhein-Hunsrück district. Part 2. Former county St. Goar, the first town of Boppard I. . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich / Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-422-00567-6 , p. 414 .
  31. ^ General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland-Palatinate (ed.): Informational directory of cultural monuments - Rhein-Hunsrück district. Mainz 2019, p. 9 (PDF; 1.7 MB).