Merode Castle
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Merode Castle , also known as Mérode Castle , dates back to the 12th century and is located in the Merode district of the Langerwehe municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia on the northern edge of the Rureifel . It is considered one of the most beautiful moated castles of the Rhineland in the Renaissance style. There is evidence that it has been in the possession of the lords, later counts, today's princes of Merode since 1174 .
history
The first definite mention was made in 1170. Built was the original plant from the originating from Kerpen royal ministerials Werner, the court Echtz and the surrounding countryside in the 12th century by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa to feud had received. He had a seat built on a clearing at the site of today's moated castle. This gave it and the place its name. The current name Merode is derived from the Latin “de Rode” and the Middle High German “van dem Rode” or “van me Rode”.
It is not known what Werner’s first settlement looked like in the 12th century. It was certainly a small fortified manor house. The name "Castrum de Rode" (Merode Castle) was first mentioned in 1263.
The current appearance of the castle goes back to the intensive construction work of Field Marshal Jean Philippe Eugène de Merode-Westerloo at the beginning of the 18th century. His tombstone is in the chapel of the castle. The castle underwent further structural changes between 1834 and 1838.
Large parts of the castle were destroyed during the Second World War . The north-west tower and parts of the north wing were not rebuilt.
Architectural-historical significance
Harald Herzog finds the term “own monument as an architectural end in itself” for Merode Castle. “The absence of all auxiliary buildings clearly shows that the castle was no longer intended to be used - the pure appearance, the mere existence in a perfected, transfigured form makes Merode an exclusive monument, far removed from all profane usefulness. In Merode, the development of the Rheinische Wasserburg into a pure monument to itself has come to an end. "
The characteristic of Schloss Merode is that it supposedly has as many windows as days in the year and as many towers as months.
Current condition
On June 19, 2000, 80% of the restored parts of the castle were again significantly damaged by a major fire. Large parts of the roof structure and a corner tower burned out completely. The castle's private archive also fell victim to the fire. The reconstruction work continues to this day. Today the castle is privately owned by Charles-Louis Prince von Merode and his family and cannot be visited. In 2019, the family received the Great Monument Prize from the Foundation of the German Castles Association for double reconstruction.
There is a weekly service in the chapel of the castle. During the year various events take place in the castle park.
Since 2011, the festival of the Düren district has been moved from Nideggen Castle to the castle.
Christmas Market
Since 2008 there has been a medieval Christmas market in the courtyard and on the grounds of the castle park, which WDR voted for the most beautiful Christmas market in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2011 . There is a fee to enter, but for citizens of Langerwehes there is always one day with free entry.
Donation campaign: "One euro for every kilometer cycled"
In the summer of 2002, Stephan Thiemonds , who was born in Merode, embarked on a bicycle tour of the world lasting several months , which took him to Australia . Associated with this was the fundraising campaign that he initiated: 1 euro for every kilometer cycled , with the proceeds going towards the reconstruction of the onion dome that had been destroyed by the fire . During the bike tour, he recorded his experiences in a loose-leaf collection. After his return he wrote 228 short stories from them, which were published as a book in 2003. The revised new edition “Querweltein Unterwegs - A bike trip full of contrasts” appeared in 2013.
literature
- Alexander Duncker : The rural residences, castles and residences of the knightly landowners in the Prussian monarchy along with the royal family, house, Fideicommiss and Schattull goods . Vol. 6, Berlin 1863/64, ( PDF; 194 kB ).
- Harald Herzog: Rhenish palace buildings in the 19th century . Rheinland-Verlag, Cologne 1981. (= Landeskonservator Rheinland, workbook 37)
- Günter Krieger : Merode - stories about a castle . Amminanus Verlag, Aachen 2015.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Harald Herzog: Rhenish palace buildings in the 19th century . Rheinland-Verlag, Cologne 1981. P. 56f. (= State Conservator Rhineland, workbook 37)
- ^ Paul Fabianek: Consequences of secularization for the monasteries in the Rhineland - Using the example of the monasteries Schwarzenbroich and Kornelimünster , 2012, Verlag BoD, ISBN 978-3-8482-1795-3 , p. 3
- ↑ Sandra Kinkel's blog , accessed on February 23, 2017.
- ↑ Description on the side of the castle , accessed on February 23, 2017.
- ↑ Description on the side of the castle , accessed on February 23, 2017.
- ↑ Stephan Thiemonds Bicycle World Tour Web presence during Stephan Thiemonds ' Bicycle World Tour . Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ↑ For onion dome around the world article in the Aachener Zeitung. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ Iatros Verlag Iatros Verlag website. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
Coordinates: 50 ° 47 ′ 57.7 ″ N , 6 ° 23 ′ 16 ″ E