Architecture Stahleck Castle

1 architecture

1.1 until 1689
1.2 today

1.2.1 palas
1.2.2 bergfried
1.2.3 shield wall , main entrance
1.2.4 other structures

architecture
until 1689

a series of archaeological excavations between 1925 , 1927 revealed many hidden foundations of medieval buildings @ castle site, making possible reconstruct there before castle destroyed in 1689. according evidence, since middle ages, stahleck castle had had 3 entrances. 1 double gate reached steps rhine valley, leading small, elongated zwinger, entry castle through double-barred door in northern shield wall, 8 m northwest corner. former main gate in west corner, on site of today s main entrance, , reached either northern zwinger or way of drawbridge group of outbuildings southwest. main gate led gate zwinger , inside gate narrow passage led courtyard. third entrance consisted of small door in outside wall of southern zwinger, parallel ring wall , had round tower @ south corner.

immediately inside northern ring wall longish building stone residential building attached northern end. ground floor divided several small rooms, , @ south end there timber-framed building outside wall southern defensive wall. 2 more timber-framed buildings stood on west side in shelter of shield wall protected castle on side hillside higher. buildings enclosed long, narrow inner courtyard, in centre of round romanesque keep (bergfried), outside wall 4 m thick.

water supplied castle sunk hillside within shield wall. connected tunnel @ depth of approximately 4 metres moat outside walls.

finds of fragments of gothic vaulting , of gothic window showed castle had chapel. until then, evidence had been mention in 1471 testament of ruprecht of palatinate, archbishop of cologne. impossible know chapel was, presumed have been on first floor of palas, merian s engraving shows small bay window on rhine side of building.

in addition still existing artillery platform on southwest side, there bastion in northeast.

today

the castle today 20th-century reconstruction, based on results of excavation , 1646 engraving matthäus merian. rebuilding plans work of ernst stahl, closely followed merian s depiction , used other historical models engraving gave no information. example, rectangular shape of castle, measuring approximately 55 24 m, shows typical regular layout , clear divisions of castle of hohenstaufen period. size of modern buildings approximates of in original castle; oldest portions foundations of keep, parts of cellar under palas , sections of curtain wall.

since castle used hostel, not available tours. however, courtyard accessible public , offers fine view of rhine, since on side there low parapet.

palas

the palas, between longhouse (left) , kitchen building (right)

the palas (residential building) 2 storeys high, built of crushed stone lined rhenish schwemmstein (a traditional artificial material made of dried pumice , lime, similar concrete), , stands @ eastern, rhine valley end of courtyard, on vaulted cellar ernst stahl dated time of conrad of hohenstaufen. has shingled hip roof 10 m high. adjoining on southwest side so-called kitchen building, fachwerk first floor, today residence of hostel managers.

on courtyard side, red sandstone tablet commemorates duke karl ludwig s rebuilding of castle. inscription reads:

carl lvdwig pfaltzgraf chvrfÜrst ernevert mich anno 1666 (carl ludwig, count palatine [and] elector, remade me in year 1666)

of numerous details stahl once envisaged incorporating in rebuilding of castle, windows , chandeliers of great hall exist today. 11 windows of hall, made of stained glass düsseldorf glass painter richard gassen, depict important events in history of castle , arms of people or institutions of rhine province in 1920s. framed versions in basalt can seen outside. room has oak plank floor , holds approximately 100 people.

bergfried

although documentary evidence leads conclusion castle built in 12th century @ latest, archaeological investigations have been unable provide proof. stahl believed, however, preserved foundations of bergfried (keep) should dated 12th century. keep round tower 7.5 m in diameter stands on bedrock in centre of inner courtyard. has walls 2 metres thick , topped 16 m cone-shaped roof. top floor, 4 m high, added later, can seen different colour of stone.

shield wall , main entrance

main gate , shield wall

the castle defended high hillside on west chemise wall has been fortified form shield wall 2.6 m thick. there interior stairway, not, however, reach far roofed chemin de ronde @ top of wall; used reach upper floors of 1930s tower building. of tall, narrow embrasures subsequently walled closed @ base , fitted wooden frames absorb recoil of firearms. fishtail shape indicates wall dates first half of 14th century. @ top flanked on both sides polygonal turrets replaced 2 earlier round towers.

below shield wall moat cut out of rock. section of measuring 18 13 metres separated off , filled water, doubling cistern. stone bridge leads on moat main entrance; gateway guarded embrasured turret above , leads elongated zwinger.

other structures

the former boys hostel called longhouse. has ground floor of crushed stone , fachwerk first floor. slate roof has dormer on courtyard side curved gable.

what known tower building, formerly girls hostel, stands against shield wall. resembles longhouse in details.

a walled platform cut out of rock little above castle southwest post-medieval position artillery aimed @ hillside important part of castle s defences after introduction of gunpowder. precise date unknown, matthäus merian s 17th-century engraving shows existed 1646.