Pfalzgrafenschloss Neumarkt

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Pfalzgrafenschloß Neumarkt

The Pfalzgrafenschloss Neumarkt , also called Neumarkter Residenz , forms the center of the castle district in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz (together with the Hofkirche and Reitstadel ) and today houses the district court of Neumarkt in Oberpfalz . It was built in its present form by Count Palatine Friedrich II in the middle of the 16th century.

history

Remains of the first castle

It is assumed that there were at least three previous buildings in the place of today's residence, but all of them were destroyed.

First and second lock

Not too much is known about the first two structures at this point. Probably around 1200 to 1250 a first castle was built, which served the then mayors of Neumarkt as an official and residential building. After it was destroyed by fire during the pogrom against Jews from Neumarkt on July 12, 1298, a successor building was soon built. Interestingly, it is controversial whether it was Neumarkt citizens who set the castle on fire (because the Jews had fled there) or the Jews themselves (out of revenge against the castle owner, who refused to help them). Both assumptions are considered equally likely. Both castles certainly did not have the size in which the residence can be found today. They were probably on the site of today's east wing, closer to the Hofkirche.

During the construction work for the underground car park on Residenzplatz in 1978, several pillars were discovered that showed signs of fire and came from one of the first two castles. They can be viewed today in the park at the Residenz or at Residenzplatz.

The castle as the palace of the Palatinate

Ruprecht III dies in 1410 . on Landskron Castle and its Palatine possessions be divided among his heirs. Johann von Pfalz-Neumarkt receives the Upper Palatinate, relocates his seat of government to Neumarkt and immediately begins with the expansion into a royal seat. He has a new castle built, which is already very similar in shape and location to today's building. For better defense, the moat behind the castle is being expanded and an additional rampart is being built in today's city park.

Various sources report that the residence, built in the Gothic style, is one of the most beautiful castles in Germany. The Marienkapelle opposite the castle was expanded under Johann around 1418 to the castle church or court church. Originally planned with two towers, only the current south-west tower will be implemented. The riding arena is built as an armory and material store.

The castle becomes an observatory

After Johann's death, his son Christoph became Count Palatine in Neumarkt, but had been King of Denmark , Sweden and Norway since 1437 , so that a governor resided in his place in Neumarkt. When Christoph left no heir in 1448, Neumarkt fell to Johann's brother, Otto I von Neumarkt-Mosbach , who soon also relocated his seat of government to Neumarkt. He is followed by his son Otto II von Neumarkt , who is nicknamed Otto Mathematicus because of his enthusiasm for astronomy and mathematics . In 1490 he withdrew from his official duties and devoted himself only to his research. He had a new, approx. 30 meter high tower built on the east wing, near the court church, at the top of which he installed his observatory: the so-called mathematicians tower . Until his death in 1499 he spent a large part of his time there with astronomical observations.

Major fire and new building

The castle on a map from 1675

In 1520 a major fire broke out in the castle district, to which the castle and the riding stables fell victim. However, both were rebuilt under Friedrich II and his Eichstätter master builder Erhard Reich by 1539. The Reitstadel did not fall victim to the flames again until 1945, and the castle has been preserved to this day. Now built as a moated castle in the Renaissance style, the castle has an extensive park, gardens and fountains and is completely surrounded by a moat. The Neptune fountain is still in the courtyard of the residence today. A splendid ballroom was available for parties and events on the first floor of the west wing, which could be reached from the inner courtyard via an outside staircase.

The whole castle was enclosed by a moat, which could be crossed by two drawbridges towards Residenzplatz and towards Stadtpark.

According to the Count Palatine

When Friedrich II moved his seat of government to Amberg in 1543 , Neumarkt lost its importance. The castle is only inhabited by relatives of the prince. After Friedrich's death in 1556, his widow Dorothea lived here . From around 1560 the residence becomes the seat of the Neumarkt mayors again. Palatine counts and princes only stay temporarily in Neumarkt. For example, in the summer of 1619 the presence of the winter king Frederick V is reported: In the mathematicians tower one of the cornerstones is laid so that he can take over the Bohemian crown a little later . In 1695 parts of the castle, especially the mathematicians tower, show considerable structural defects and are then torn down.

18th century until today

From 1795, part of the palace was used again: a tobacco factory was established in the residence and existed until the 19th century. In 1805 justice is pronounced for the first time in the halls and rooms, and the Neumarkt district court moves in. The Royal Bavarian District Court of Neumarkt and the District Office of the Neumarkt district follow in 1862 (until 1961). There is a prison in the east wing that has existed until the 1930s. During this time, two side wings of the building and the gate tower at the entrance to the castle courtyard will be demolished. Although the old town of Neumarkt was badly destroyed in the last days of the war in 1945, the residence was spared. A complete renovation follows; from 1990 the remaining parts of the east wing will be rebuilt.

Today's condition and usage

District court and ballroom of the residence

The main building and the west wing now house the district court and the land registry of the city of Neumarkt. Until 1997 there was a branch of the Bavarian National Museum in the former ballroom ( Krümperstallung ) . a. Baroque nativity scenes could be viewed. Today the ballrooms are used as an event space, especially as part of the series of cabaret events in the residence . The cellars of the residence were used as archives for the local court and some of the cellars in the west wing housed restaurants ( restaurant Residenzkeller , Krümpers music cellar ). In the meantime, after renovation work, the rustic vaulted cellar is used again for cabaret events by the city administration and its cultural institutions. In the summer months the inner courtyard is transformed into a theater stage when the Neumarkter Schloßspiele perform.

Furniture and art treasures

One of the two lions with a coat of arms

Over the centuries, a large part of the residence's inventory was lost; other parts were stored in the Bavarian State Archives in Munich . In the Palatine Castle have been preserved to this day

  • a chimney with marble inlays chiseled by the Eichstatt sculptor Loy Hering by Friedrich II and heraldic stones held by lions
  • wood-carved coffered ceilings in today's conference rooms and in the director's room by unknown artists
  • two coat of arms stones, especially the large coat of arms stone with the chain of the golden fleece
  • the Neptune fountain in the castle courtyard
  • the two stone lions with heraldic shields at the entrance
  • a painting that Frederick II. shows

Sightseeing

In order not to disrupt the official operation of the court, tours of the residence are generally not possible. For Heritage Day but tours are offered and during the Old Town Festival in June. The inner courtyard can be visited at any time, and the entire outer facade is freely accessible from the city park and Residenzplatz.

Others

According to a legend, a secret corridor leads from the residence to the Wolfstein castle ruins . Its entrance is presumed either in the area of ​​the castle pond or directly in the basement of the castle. When Neumarkt was besieged by Nuremberg troops in the Landshut War of Succession in 1504 , the riflemen at the castle are said to have been supplied with food and ammunition from here.

Web links

Commons : Pfalzgrafenschloss Neumarkt  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 49 ° 16 ′ 53.5 ″  N , 11 ° 27 ′ 40 ″  E