Bieberstein Castle (Hesse)

Bieberstein Castle

Bieberstein Castle is a baroque castle in Langenbieber , a district of the Hofbieber municipality in the Fulda district in East Hesse . It was built between 1710 and 1740 by the Bamberg master builder Johann Dientzenhofer and is located about 2 km south of Hofbieber and about 16 km east of Fulda on the Kugelberg ( 505.1 m above sea level ), a southern branch of the Hessenliede ( 517 , 7 m above sea level ). South of the Kugelberg, the area slopes down into the Biebertal .

history

Bieberstein Castle

From the 9th century the area around Hofbieber belonged to the Fulda monastery . When Abbot Markward (1150–1165) took office, the building of a castle that had been considered for a long time, according to current opinion, was put into practice. The argument was that one had to forestall any enemies of the church who could possibly take their seat here. This is how the monastery built one of its first fortifications. Although the castle was in the hands of the monastery in Fulda, it can be seen from documents that at least from the end of the 12th century to the middle of the 13th century there was also a knightly von Bieberstein family .

A different story emerges, however, if one takes literally the decisive document which tells of Abbot Marquart's intentions. In it says Alex Zollmann: “ Because I thought in my mind: Look there, the right place for this castle! If some enemy of the church seizes him, every evil will threaten us from him [...] That is why I started to take possession of that castle [...] and occupy it with loyal warriors [...] . “ This can also mean that the castle already existed in the hands of the von Bieberstein family mentioned above, but that it was now more and more the property of the Fulda monastery.

It therefore seems to make more sense that the castle near the village of Hofbieber was already in disrepair before the middle of the 13th century, and in some cases even in ruins. The knightly family seems to have been impoverished and ultimately died out. The Fulda Monastery took advantage of this situation and took possession of the building and the land belonging to it - perhaps not until the 13th century. In any case, Abbot Heinrich IV had Bieberstein Castle restored around 1250 and surrounded with a moat for his fight against the robber barons, in addition to the construction of some new castles.

Since the abbots of Fulda were constantly involved in new and costly battles, especially since the 14th century, the monastery came more and more often into financial bottlenecks. It was often forced to pledge or even sell part of its property. Bieberstein Castle was also repeatedly a victim of this financial need. However, it was always ensured that the right to buy back was reserved, so that the castle repeatedly came back into the possession of the Fulda Monastery. From 1486 to 1802, however, the castle was then permanently owned by the prince abbots of Fulda.

The castle was probably the center of one of the Fulda offices since the 13th century, and later even an upper office . Thus the central jurisdiction was exercised. However, the Zentgraf had only had his residence in Bieberstein since the end of the 17th century; before that he lived in Hofbieber , where the actual Zentgericht was held. According to a list from 1510, the Bieberstein district included the following localities: Allmus , Batten, Bernharts, Dietges, Elters, Findlos , Gotthards, Gruben, Hofbieber, Langenbieber , Liebhards, Margretenhaun , Niederbieber , Schwarzbach , Seiferts , Steens, Thaiden , Traisbach, Wallings and Weihershof . In addition, there were some places that died out in the 14th century, possibly in the course of the plague and various famines , and have since been considered desolate .

View from Milseburg to Bieberstein Castle

From the 16th to the 18th century there were problems with the following places: Schackau, Kleinsassen , Eckweisbach, Langenberg, Horbach, Dornbach, Rupsroth and half of Dietges. These did not belong to the Bieberstein office, but were owned by the von Eberstein family , although they were subject to the jurisdiction of Fulda . This was not only associated with the obligation to appear regularly before the court in Hofbieber, but also with the obligation to play a certain part in maintaining the castle. The latter in particular was always a cause of dispute between the Fulda monastery and the von Eberstein family.

For the inhabitants of the Bieber Valley, Bieberstein Castle offered protection in the event of armies passing through or in the event of war - which, however, apart from the period of the Thirty Years' War , probably seldom happened. On the other hand, however, it primarily meant doing compulsory labor and taxes . It was not until 1808 that they were freed from this burden when Napoleon abolished serfdom .

In 1672, the buildings of Bieberstein Castle were restored on behalf of the Prince Abbot Cardinal von Baden - damage from the war probably had to be repaired here too.

The castle not only served to secure the area and as the seat of a court, but was also not infrequently used as an alternative quarters for the Fulda prince abbots. The stay of Balthasar von Dernbach is significant in this context . This was temporarily deposed from his office and was assigned the castle as his residence. This was in the years 1576 to 1602. The notorious witch hunter Balthasar Nuss was a stable master and forester in Dernbach's time, and later he was given the office of tithe count at Hofbieber.

Bieberstein Castle

Prince Abbot Adalbert von Schleifras around 1700

Just a few decades after the last renovation work in the last third of the 17th century, Prince Abbot Adalbert von Schleifras came up with a different plan: He wanted a more imposing building that could also serve as a representation. 1709 he commissioned the famous architect Johann Dientzenhofer, who is also the cathedral and the castle in Fulda in the style of the Baroque was built. Construction began in 1710, but was not finished until 1723, so that Adalbert von Schleifras would no longer see the completion; he died in 1714.

The construction of a 57 m deep draw well was very useful, because now the water no longer had to be driven up the mountain or carried up from the spring below the castle.

Since the castle was built, the prince abbots of Fulda have always enjoyed coming to their summer residence . There are many reports of festivals at which not a little wine is said to have flowed to amuse the numerous guests.

This ended with the secularization in 1802/03. The secular lords, who changed in quick succession, seemed unable to do anything with the remote country castle. From 1802 to 1806 it was owned by those of Orange-Nassau , then it was under the French military administration until 1810, was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt in 1810 and was transferred to Austrian ownership in 1813. According to the regulations of the Congress of Vienna , it fell to Prussia in 1815 , which exchanged with Kurhessen for Rhenish territories. The palace remained in the possession of the Electorate of Hesse until 1866, when Prussia annexed the Electorate.

At times, foresters were housed. But that was not a permanent solution either, since maintaining the castle costs a lot of money. In 1852, Kurhessen considered converting the castle into a prison. There were already building plans, but the idea was not implemented. Likewise, the Prussian idea of converting the palace complex into a prisoner of war camp after winning the war against France in 1870/71 did not get beyond the initial draft phase.

In 1872 a private person bought the castle for 10,000 Reichsmarks. From 1887 to 1901 it was owned by a railway company. From 1901 many rooms were leased, especially in the basement, where a restaurant was set up.

The castle survived the two world wars without any significant damage . During the Second World War , it was used as a military hospital at times, especially towards the end of the war .

Bieberstein Castle near Hofbieber-Langenbieber, now a boarding school

View from Schloss Bieberstein in south-southeast direction to Milseburg, Steilberg and Wasserkuppe

Hermann Lietz School

In 1904 Hermann Lietz bought the castle and converted it into a rural education home in line with his reform pedagogy . He succeeded in defending his project against hostility, especially from the area of the Catholic Church in Fulda. Bieberstein Castle is still the location of the upper level of the Hermann Lietz Schools today . 125 girls and boys are looked after by 25 teachers and 25 other specialists.

Large fires raged in 1908 and 1966. After the devastating fire of 1908, the entire palace was extended. The towers and balconies have only been around since then. When it was built after 1966, contrary to the style of the palace, the large balcony was added on the east side. On November 29, 1966, a fire devastated parts of the attic, which were soon rebuilt.

Today the “Lietz Boarding School Schloss Bieberstein” of the “Foundation of German State Education Homes” is located at Bieberstein Castle.

The introductory phase “E-International” is unique in Germany. The E-phase is partly spent abroad, the students learn using e-learning, among other things, and at the end of the E-International they can continue their way to the Abitur . The school thus offers exceptional international experience, including in Nepal and South Africa, through a 6-month stay abroad - without losing school time.

The use of modern means of communication is just as natural as holistic learning with head, heart and hand (reform pedagogy). Working with the printed word is no less important. A comprehensive, well-stocked library invites you to do so. Economic, international and artistic competence are very important at Schloss Bieberstein. The "Stiftung Deutsche Landerziehungsheime Hermann-Lietz-Schule", in cooperation with the "Scholarship Fund for Old Citizens and Friends of the Hermann Lietz Schools", awards several scholarships each year amounting to up to 50 percent of the school and boarding school fees.

literature

Rudolf Knappe: Medieval castles in Hessen. 800 castles, castle ruins and fortifications. 3. Edition. Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen 2000, ISBN 3-86134-228-6 , p. 204.
Alex Zollmann: 800 years of Bieberstein . In: Hofbieber 1093-2003. From the story of a village . Working group 'Chronik' Hofbieber, Nüsttal-Hofaschenbach 2003, pp. 170–177.
Dieter Leuthold: The fight against the "modern pagans". Hermann Lietz and the establishment of the Bieberstein Castle Landerziehungsheim in 1904. - Fulda: Life and Work (Zs. The Hermann Lietz School) 1969
Rolf Müller (Ed.): Palaces, castles, old walls. Published by the Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden 1990, ISBN 3-89214-017-0 , p. 184.