Moth Zoppesmur

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Moth Zoppesmur
The castle complex in the forest

The castle complex in the forest

Alternative name (s): Motte Zobbesmur, Leysiefen Castle
Creation time : before 1280
Castle type : Niederungsburg, moth
Conservation status: Wall remains and castle mound
Place: Leichlingen -Leysiefen
Geographical location 51 ° 7 '45 "  N , 7 ° 2' 39"  E Coordinates: 51 ° 7 '45 "  N , 7 ° 2' 39"  E
Height: 76  m above sea level NN
Moth Zoppesmur (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Moth Zoppesmur
3D model of the moth

The Motte Zoppesmur , also Motte Zobbesmur (= Zobbes walls) or Burg Leysiefen , is an early to high medieval tower castle (Motte) in the Leichlingen district of Leysiefen on the left bank of the Wupper in the Bergisches Land ( North Rhine-Westphalia ). Only soil faults and remains of masonry have been preserved from the complex.

Location and appearance

The ruins of the moth is close to Hofschaft Leysiefen 200 meters from the left Wupper shore at the foot of Mount Wupper. The castle hill with a base diameter of around 50 m and a height of around 8 m was built on a slope that sloped towards the Wupper. A ring wall surrounded the castle hill, supported by a strong wall on the valley side.

history

The castle, registered as a ground monument, was probably built around 1200 by the Bergisch knight and ministerial family Zobbe , who later renamed themselves de Leysiefen . In 1280 the castle passed to Count Adolf V von Berg , who also owned the nearby castle Haus Nesselrath and therefore had no further use for the motte. Since the handover document from 1280 is both the first and last documentary mention of the castle, it was probably left to decay immediately after the takeover.

The ruin inspired legends among the population. The ruin is said to have been the camp of a band of robbers for a long time and to house buried treasures. The vernacular tells of sawed knights and of spirits guarding the hidden treasures.

A legend also explains the decline of the castle: a Junker von Leysiefen tried to rob the bathing elves of Heribertsborn clothes. He was blinded and from then on lived a miserable existence in his castle. He, who had a castle, fishing and hunting, perished in utter poverty.

literature

  • Walter Jansen, A. Herrnbrodt and K. Greve: Medieval fortifications in the Rhein-Wupper district. In: Heimatkalender Land an Wupper und Rhein, 1973, pp. 104–132.
  • Fritz Hinrichs: Farm castles and knight seats on the Niederwupper. Contributions to Niederberg's settlement, cultural and family history, Leverkusen-Wiesdorf 1938.
  • Fritz Hinrichs: Leysiefen. In: Bonner Jahrbuch 64, 1964, p. 552.

Web links

Commons : Motte Zoppesmur  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files