20th-century rebuilding Stahleck Castle

20th century rebuilding work done on stahleck

the first work stabilise , rebuild ring wall , shield wall, costing 3,500 marks, began in 1909, after ruin had been transferred prussian crown rhenish association landmark preservation , landscape protection. association able raise 5,000 mark purchase price through donations. work interrupted world war i, , castle suffered further vandalism , decay. in 1924 richard blankenhorn, owner of villa above castle, wished start business in ruins, there no response 5 years enquiry concerning lease.

early in 1925 decision taken construct youth hostel @ castle. firm plans made in march of year. association contracted architect ernst stahl build in ruin, in spirit of old buildings , making use of old walls, building [would] fit landscape . financing of initial work ensured endowment of 50,000 reichsmarks.

longhouse, built boys hostel in 1925/26

stahleck became association s prestige project. intention rebuild castle. stahl based designs on historical models , appended them remaining structures, changed plans again after ancient, unknown building foundations came light in excavations beginning in august 1925. excavations , attendant repeated surveying of site delayed start of building late summer 1925. first building, longhouse, intended hostel boys. on first floor, executed in fachwerk, flat hostel manager , adjacent dormitory washroom. on ground floor, built in crushed stone, kitchen , day-room, while top floor, has dormers on courtyard side, housed further sleeping , washing space. design adhered far possible use of space in old castle. old cellar @ east corner of site rebuilt , roofed on in reinforced concrete make viewing terrace. further excavations took place parallel construction work, , recovered stones used building material in rebuilding ring wall , foundation of keep.

tower building, formerly girls hostel, completed in 1927

the official dedication of youth hostel took place on 12–13 june 1926 , followed second building phase, autumn 1926 july 1927, in tower building, 2 wings @ right angles , turret @ angle, built girls hostel on foundations of 2 fachwerk buildings against shield wall. ground floor consisted of large day-room; on first floor large dormitory, washrooms , living , sleeping space matrons. further sleeping space under single-pitched roof, , in addition there 4-bed room inside turret. rebuilding of entire ring wall , shield wall lasted until 1927.

once open, youth hostel oversubscribed, leading problems water supply. insufficient water led complete ban on washing. problem alleviated tapping new source of water on western hillside.

in 1929, keep, 2 holes in explosion, stabilised height of 3 m. hole on east side used entrance tower. in 1929, day-rooms redecorated dados , murals. in 1930–31, ground floor of ruined palas rebuilt, make dining hall, dishwashing room, , flat hostel manager. in 1932, work done on clearing rubble moat.