Meßkirch Castle

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Meßkirch Castle (south view)

The Castle Meßkirch , and Castle of the Counts of rooms or shortly room castle called, is located in the city center Meßkirch in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg . The castle is a cultural and museum center .

history

East view with the Conradin-Kreutzer monument
West view from the courtyard garden
Second floor plan, around 1820

The origins of the castle go back to around 1400. Johannes von Zimmer († 1441) is considered to be the builder of the "old castle". He had quarry stones brought from Benzenberg Castle to Meßkirch as there were not enough stones available on site. Froben Christoph von Zimmer reports in the Zimmerische Chronik about the alterations that his uncle Gottfried Werner had carried out on the old castle after 1520. The criticism of these measures is drastic. The defects in the construction lead to the fact that the castle became dilapidated in a short time. This also gave Froben Christoph the justification to completely demolish the old castle in favor of a new castle.

On May 9, 1557, three years after he came to power, the new lord of the castle himself laid the foundation stone for the new building. A keystone with the year 1557 in the city wing of the castle testifies to this. It is assumed that Froben Christoph could have got the inspiration for the castle building during his study stays between 1534 and 1540 in France ( Bourges , Angers and Tours ), but the supposed model for Castle Messkirch, the Castle Ancy completed by Sebastiano Serlio in 1545 le-Franc , hadn't even started at that time. The master builder of Meßkirch Castle, Jörg Schwarzenberger, can be traced back to Meßkirch in 1561 and again in 1566. Messkirch Castle is the first regular four-wing castle complex north of the Alps in the Renaissance style .

Schwarzenberger later implemented this new type of castle, called Meßkircher castle type , with the relatives of the rooms, the Zollern in Hechingen and the Fürstenbergers in Heiligenberg , as well as with the Counts of Waldburg with the Wolfegg and Zeil castles .

Similar, contemporary new palace buildings, such as Göppingen , 1555 and Hohenems , 1567, were not as stylish as the Meßkirch Palace. The castle planned for Freudenstadt in 1599 was never built.

In 1566 all four corner towers and three of the wings were completed, the fourth wing remained an old building, the so-called "Schlössle". With the 30 × 9.60 meter large knight's hall, the castle contains the oldest ballroom of the Renaissance in Germany (1561) with the still original wooden coffered ceiling, consisting of 85 individual elements. A special feature is the technical innovation of the self-supporting ceiling, as this means that the room does not need columns. In December 1985, a Renaissance coffered ceiling was discovered in the west wing of the palace like in the east wing. A second hall measuring 20 × 9.60 meters was already divided into two rooms under Count Wilhelm von Zimmer , who continued the interior work after Froben Christoph's death. When he died in 1594, the interior was completed.

Froben Christoph's reference to the many snails (spiral staircases made of stone) and external doors that are still in place today reflects the changed security needs of the lords of the castle and the client's fear of a fire disaster. Not only did he provide many escape routes, but also stone stairs that could have withstood a fire. Diverse escape routes in the event of fire were more important to him than protection from external enemies. Today's baroque wooden staircase dates from the time of Froben Ferdinand zu Fürstenberg . There is still a round stone glass in the castle cellar. The castle also has a vaulted cellar and a dungeon.

In 1594, after the Counts of Zimmer died out, the castle was initially used as a residence for the Counts of Helfenstein-Gundelfingen. He had a talking coat of arms installed above the main portal . From 1716 it was the residence of the princes of Fürstenberg-Meßkirch .

The stable and carriage building ( Remise ) was built in 1737 by Johann Caspar Bagnato, master builder of the Order of the Teutonic Order .

What had a strong impact on the history of both the building and the town was the extinction of the male line of those of Zimmer and of the Meßkirch line of the Fürstenbergs in Meßkirch in 1744. This meant that the Meßkirch upper class gradually emigrated towards Donaueschingen and the Messkirch people who worked in and for the palace lost their jobs. From then on, the castle was no longer a residence and served as a residence for members of the family if necessary; from 1726 to 1808 it was a widow's seat. The holdings of the former palace library were probably transferred to the Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Hofbibliothek . The library furniture from 1738 is still preserved in the Princely Fürstenberg Archive .

Architecturally, the palace was also influenced by Roman buildings from antiquity. This can be seen in roof shapes, pillars and cornices; For example the triangular gable above the archway, the stylized half-columns or the building decorations along the facade.

restoration

There have been no significant changes to the basic structure since the last additional buildings from around 1700. The castle lacked the necessary building maintenance, and so over the years there was serious structural damage. The city of Meßkirch, which in 1961 took over the palace and the courtyard garden from the Fürstenberg dynasty for a symbolic purchase price of one Deutsche Mark , was unable to change anything for a long time.

When the Baden-Wuerttemberg state government launched a monument preservation priority program towards the end of the 1970s, the castle in Meßkirch was one of the most urgent objects. In 1984 it was recognized as an architectural monument of particular national cultural importance, and in 1985 work began on repairing the roofs and portals.

In January 1986, extensive coffered ceilings from the Renaissance period were discovered in three wings and three barrel vaults with frescoes by Joseph Franz Wegscheider were uncovered in the former castle chapel . It has magnificent stucco ceilings.

From 1991 to 1995 the “Schlössle” and the Remise were renovated. With help from the monument use program and funds from the European Union, the repair of the exterior facade was carried out in parallel in 1993. From 1998 to 2001 the interior of the city wing, the renovation of the inner courtyard and the basement rooms took place. The renovation of the valley wing finally began in 2005. The west wing still needs to be renovated. However, since it is a listed building, this requires considerable financial efforts, which cannot be managed in the next few years.

The small castle hall has Renaissance arcades. The original stucco ceilings can be found in the prince's former apartment. The roof structure dates from the 16th century. The complex is also home to offices from the 19th century.

use

The administrative center already in the times of the Fürstenbergs was the Messkirch Castle, built by the barons of Zimmer and the former residence of the Prince of Fürstenberg. Up until the transition to Baden, the Fürstenberg Oberamt had also established itself there. After 1806 the Baden District Office was housed there until it was dissolved in 1936 as part of an administrative reform ordered by the National Socialists and the district of Meßkirch was incorporated into the Stockach district. As the last Fürstenberg authority, the Fürstlich Fürstenberg Forest Office was located in the castle, and the district court was also housed there until the district reform in 1973 . The notary's office is still domiciled in the castle today. The general local health insurance fund (AOK) of the Stockach district and various schools had also found a place to stay there over the years, such as the Ursuline rural women’s school, later the women’s technical school and the secondary school, boarding school of the Benedictine nuns of Saint Lioba (branch school of the Wald Monastery home school , up to Relocation to Wald in 1977). But also secondary school and secondary school classes temporarily used the rooms in the castle until the building complex was renovated. In 1983 the music pedagogue couple Ludwig and Wilma Fischer-Schwaner ran a private music school in the castle. In December 1989 150 GDR refugees were housed in the palace. In January 1990 you complained about the intolerable conditions in the castle; so there were only two toilets and two showers.

Since the renovation, the building complex has mainly been used by the Martin Heidegger Archive. Its ballroom is available for cultural events, conferences and representation events in the city.

Museums

Circle gallery

“Schlössle” (left), north-west tower and coach house with the vintage car museum

Since 2006, the palace has housed the Meßkirch Castle District Gallery , a district art collection of the Sigmaringen district, in the south wing of the palace complex, the so-called valley wing, on two floors and a total area of ​​around 450 square meters . In contrast to the open ballroom, the south wing is divided into small room units for structural reasons. The art objects are owned by the district or were acquired by the Oberschwäbische Elektrizitätswerke. In 2009 the number of visitors increased from 3500 to 4000.

Classic car museum

The old-timer museum Meßkirch in the remise of the castle shows a collection of old automobiles and motorcycles.

Martin Heidegger Museum

On the ground floor of the east wing, the Martin Heidegger Museum was opened in 2002, a permanent exhibition on the life and work of the philosopher. In addition to a chronicle of his life and stages in Heidegger's philosophical development , the topics "Heidegger as the son of Messkirch" and "Heidegger and art" are shown. Its working library is located in the Martin Heidegger Archive.

Courtyard garden

Never executed plan for the court garden in Meßkirch (1735)
Trees in the courtyard garden

The courtyard garden, which was planned in 1735 as an architectural landscape garden with dead straight avenues, water basins and plants shaped by secateurs, was never implemented. Its builder Froben Ferdinand zu Fürstenberg died during the planning. Froben Christoph von Zimmer already planned to create the garden as an orchard.

The small solution of today's court garden was laid out in 1736 as a palace park according to plans by Johann Caspar Bagnato in the French style and planted with over 300 linden trees, 44 of which are still standing today. In December 1985, 25 trees had to be felled. Of the total of 300 trees in the courtyard garden, 57 are 200 years old and older.

The peculiarity of the old trees is on the one hand the high number of very old linden trees, which is regionally unique, and on the other hand the good health of the trees. Generally all trees inside are hollow. Most of the time, however, they have enough residual wall thickness to ensure life-sustaining care. In general, there is a large amount of maintenance residue and a high occurrence of deadwood on the entire site . For around 50 percent of the trees, growth training with pruning, crown protection and shortening is overdue in order to maintain the vitality of the trees in the long term. In the past, trunk damage was caused by mowing the lawn in the courtyard garden. In 2011, the city started securing the crowns .

The fountain with a fountain in a paved tub in the courtyard garden was once donated by the Dual company. The park with a baroque structure was once a private garden with paths and lines of sight, as well as ground floor areas. The courtyard garden changed over the decades with the demands of the public.

In April 2010, surveys were carried out in the Hofgarten for a park maintenance work, with the aim of entering it in the monument book . So far, ensemble protection has existed for the courtyard garden and palace . In the meantime it has been declared a natural monument . The entry in the monument book and the creation of a maintenance work are basic requirements for the recognition of the Hofgarten as a “ cultural monument of special importance ”.

The diversity of species and individuals in the Hofgarten is significant: 44 bird species can be found in the Hofgarten, including 31 breeding bird species and three strictly protected by the Red List of Threatened Species ( Merlin , Green Woodpecker and Kestrel ) and 16 that are on the warning list (such as Fitis , Tree sparrow and crossbill ). Regional peculiarities are the crossbill, a starling colony and a colony of field thrushes. A total of 40 species of wood beetles are found in the park and the orchard meadow. The great linden jewel beetle , one of the species threatened with extinction, is of particular importance . He has a unique refuge between the Swabian Alb and the Alps and settles on 27 linden trees, especially in the area around the courtyard garden. The courtyard garden is a very valuable area for bats . The park, orchard and the adjacent open land are ideal hunting habitats.

Events

Meßkircher Castle Festival

The Meßkircher Castle Festival takes place every year around the castle, in the inner courtyard and in the courtyard garden . The festival is organized and carried out jointly by the city of Meßkirch, the Hofmann siblings , the Meßkirch associations and restaurateurs.

Meßkircher Castle Christmas

Since 2006, the Meßkircher Castle Christmas , a Christmas market in the castle courtyard, has always taken place on the first weekend in Advent . The organizer is the Handels- und Gewerbevereinigung (HGV) from Meßkirch, which organizes catering for the stands together with local associations and businesses.

Classic car meeting

The largest classic car meeting in Upper Swabia has been held every two years since 2007 in the courtyard garden, palace courtyard and palace.

literature

  • Gabriele Heidenreich: Messkirch Castle. Representation of aristocratic rule in the 16th century. Bibliotheca Academica Verlag, Tübingen 1998, ISBN 3-928471-18-X .
  • Hubert Krins: Messkirch Castle. Kunstverlag Josef Fink, Lindenberg 2001, ISBN 3-89870-037-2 .

Web links

Commons : Messkirch Castle  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Zimmerische Chronik, Volume 4, p. 148.
  2. ↑ Zimmern Chronicle, Volume 4, page 298. : has graff Froben Cristof the baw started in jar gepurt by Cristi 1557, the 9th day of May-, because the count the first stain selbs glegt in egkthurn the garden house, against the Mette Bach.
  3. ↑ a b c Karlheinz Kirchmaier (khk): The coffered ceiling in the palace hall consists of 85 individual elements. The quiz is the end and highlight of the tour for young people from Messkirch. In: Schwäbische Zeitung. dated August 24, 2011.
  4. ^ Kai Budde: Fürstenberg, Waldburg, Zimmer and Zollern. In: Kai Budde, Klaus Merten: Architecture in the German Southwest between 1530 and 1634. In: “The Renaissance in the German Southwest between the Reformation and the Thirty Years War”, an exhibition by the State of Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg Castle June 21 - October 19 1986. p. 103 ff.
  5. ^ Castle Ancy-le-Franc in the French language Wikipedia . See also Ancy-le-Franc Castle on Commons
  6. ↑ Casimir Bumiller: History of the Swabian Alb. From the ice age to the present . Casimir Katz Verlag, Gernsbach 2008, ISBN 978-3-938047-41-5 .
  7. ↑ a b c d e Isabell Michelberger (imi): Art and history. Guided tour with the district archivist through the palace and gallery. In: Südkurier. dated November 12, 2008.
  8. ↑ a b Once upon a time. In: Südkurier. from January 4, 2011.
  9. ↑ Zimmerische Chronik, Volume 4, p. 298: And it is provided in a special way that the vil has snails, doors and ussgeng, which in the case of need, even at times of abuse and seriousness, brings some good opportunities with it, than many times give up, the whole house in need of fire and the people darmit sampt have to have great good, who have not announced give way or escape.
  10. ↑ a b c Isabell Michelberger (imi): The commonality of woman and boar. In: Südkurier. dated June 21, 2011.
  11. ↑ a b c Falko Hahn (fah): Like royal children in the castle. In: Südkurier. dated August 25, 2011
  12. ↑ a b Karlheinz Kirchmaier (khk): Families conquer the castle. On the adventure day, the large ballroom in particular earns plenty of admiration. In: Schwäbische Zeitung. dated June 20, 2011.
  13. ↑ To spread the word. Did you know that…. In: Südkurier. dated December 29, 2010.
  14. ↑ Website fuerstenberg-kultur.de
  15. ↑ Werner Fischer (wf): Once. In: Südkurier. from January 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ Free time. The tour shows otherwise closed rooms. In: Südkurier. from September 10, 2011
  17. ↑ a b Sign at the castle in Meßkirch
  18. ↑ Castle opens on the day of the open monument. In: Schwäbische Zeitung. dated September 6, 2011.
  19. ↑ Once upon a time. In: Südkurier, November 26, 2008
  20. ↑ Werner Fischer (wf): Once . In: Südkurier from December 31, 2014
  21. ↑ Werner Fischer (wf): Once . In: Südkurier from January 28, 2015
  22. ↑ Kreisgalerie Schloss Meßkirch  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.messkirch.de   on the website of the city of Meßkirch, accessed on July 17, 2008.
  23. ^ Karlheinz Fahlbusch (kf): Cultural work with diversity. In: Südkurier. dated April 13, 2010.
  24. ↑ Falko Hahn (fah): Visions for the new courtyard garden. In: Südkurier. dated August 23, 2008
  25. ↑ Sign in the courtyard garden in Meßkirch
  26. ↑ Citizens want to use Hofgarten for themselves. In: Südkurier. dated February 27, 2009
  27. ↑ a b c Karlheinz Kirchmaier (khk): Hofgarten. Gravel surfaces disturb the citizens. In: Schwäbische Zeitung. dated November 26, 2010
  28. ^ Gregor Moser (mos): Something is happening in the courtyard garden. In: Südkurier. dated April 28, 2010
  29. ↑ a b c Georg Moser (mos): The Hofgarten has a "regional uniqueness". In: Südkurier. dated November 26, 2010.
  30. ↑ Markus Vonberg: The city ​​does not close the cocks . In: Südkurier of May 2, 2003
  31. ^ A b Gregor Moser (mos): Park maintenance is the basis. In: Südkurier. dated April 28, 2010.
  32. ^ Gregor Moser (mos): Question mark in front of the classic car exhibition. In: Südkurier. dated November 20, 2010.
  33. ^ Dirk Thannheimer: Park maintenance work. Only one tree in the courtyard garden fell victim to the saw. In: Schwäbische Zeitung. dated April 28, 2010.
  34. ↑ Hermann Peter Steinmüller (hps): Meßkircher clubs make a show of strength at the castle Christmas . Bingo, punch bowl and a yurt tent. In: Südkurier. dated November 21, 2008.

Coordinates: 47 ° 59 ′ 34.65 "  N , 9 ° 6 ′ 36.3"  E