Greifenstein Castle (German: Burg Greifenstein) lies in the eponymous village of Greifenstein in the county of Lahn-Dill-Kreis in Middle Hesse, Germany. It is a geo point in the national geopark of Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus.
The hill castle stands on a hill in the Dill Westerwald and has a good view over the Dill valley. At 441 m (1,447 ft) above sea level (NN) it is the highest castle in the county of Lahn-Dill. The castle is a highly visible landmark. It is signed from the A 45 motorway.
Historyedit
The hill castle was first recorded in 1160. In 1298 it was destroyed by the counts of Nassau and Solms, as was Lichtenstein, which was not rebuilt. In 1315 it was enfeoffed by the House of Habsburg (Albert I had purchased the castle from Kraft of Greifenstein) to the Counts of Nassau.[1][2] After having several owners, it had become dilapidated by 1676 and was then converted into a Baroqueschloss by William Maurice of Solms-Greifenstein. After the counts moved to Braunfels in 1693 the site fell into ruins.
In 1969 the castle ruins were gifted to the Greifenstein Society, who have since looked after the preservation of the site, which is open to the public and incorporates a restaurant. The castle is a heritage site in the meaning of the Hessian Monument Conservation Act. Since 1995, its restoration has also been supported by the Federal Republic of Germany because it has been classified as a Monument of National Significances (Denkmal von nationaler Bedeutung).
Descriptionedit
The circular walk across the castle terrain leads to a gaol with torture implements, weapons and a wine cellar, living rooms and a twin-towered bergfried accessible on a spiral staircase. On the pointed roof of the Brother Tower (Bruderturm) there is a gryphon (German: Greif, a reference to the name of the castle) as a weather vane. In the tower itself is a peal of three bells with strike tones of F#1, A1 and C2.
Attractions include the Village and Castle Museum (Dorf- und Burgmuseum), one of the few double chapels in Germany. The Chapel of St. Catherine was built in 1462 as a fortified church in the Gothic style. When the castle was converted into the Baroque style the castle courtyard was filled with earth with the result that, today, the chapel is below ground level. It contains frescoes and arrow slits as well as casemates with vaulted ceilings and fighting rooms. The Baroque church built above the fortified chapel from 1687 to 1702 is richly decorated with stuccos and is of the Italian Early Baroque period. Upper and lower churches are linked by a staircase.
Walks around the castle and an educational herb garden make the site a popular destination.
Georg Ulrich Großmann: Mittel- und Südhessen : Lahntal, Taunus, Rheingau, Wetterau, Frankfurt und Maintal, Kinzig, Vogelsberg, Rhön, Bergstraße und Odenwald. DuMont, Cologne, 1995, ISBN3-7701-2957-1 (=DuMont Kunst-Reiseführer), pp. 45–48.
Rudolf Knappe: Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen: 800 Burgen, Burgruinen und Burgstätten. 3rd edn., Wartberg-Verlag, Gudensberg-Gleichen, 2000, ISBN3-86134-228-6, pp. 287–288.
Schlösser, Burgen, alte Mauern. Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden, 1990, pp. 148–150, ISBN3-89214-017-0.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greifenstein Castle.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Greifenstein Castle in Merian‘s Topographia Hassiae
There is literature about Greifenstein Castle (Hesse) in the Hessian Bibliography
Greifenstein-Verein e. V.: Greifenstein Castle
Wolfgang Braun: Artist’s impression based on the model
March 17, 2024
greifenstein, castle, hesse, greifenstein, castle, german, burg, greifenstein, lies, eponymous, village, greifenstein, county, lahn, dill, kreis, middle, hesse, germany, point, national, geopark, westerwald, lahn, taunus, greifensteingreifensteingeneral, view,. Greifenstein Castle German Burg Greifenstein lies in the eponymous village of Greifenstein in the county of Lahn Dill Kreis in Middle Hesse Germany It is a geo point in the national geopark of Westerwald Lahn Taunus GreifensteinGreifensteinGeneral view of the castleGreifensteinShow map of HesseGreifensteinShow map of GermanyCoordinates50 37 14 N 8 17 40 E 50 6206 N 8 2944 E 50 6206 8 2944Typehill castleCodeDE HEHeight441 m above sea level NHN Site informationConditionruins partially preservedSite historyBuiltvor 1160Garrison informationOccupantsnobility countsGreifenstein excerpt from the Topographia Hassiae by Matthaus Merian 1655 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Description 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Literature 7 External linksLocation editThe hill castle stands on a hill in the Dill Westerwald and has a good view over the Dill valley At 441 m 1 447 ft above sea level NN it is the highest castle in the county of Lahn Dill The castle is a highly visible landmark It is signed from the A 45 motorway History editThe hill castle was first recorded in 1160 In 1298 it was destroyed by the counts of Nassau and Solms as was Lichtenstein which was not rebuilt In 1315 it was enfeoffed by the House of Habsburg Albert I had purchased the castle from Kraft of Greifenstein to the Counts of Nassau 1 2 After having several owners it had become dilapidated by 1676 and was then converted into a Baroque schloss by William Maurice of Solms Greifenstein After the counts moved to Braunfels in 1693 the site fell into ruins In 1969 the castle ruins were gifted to the Greifenstein Society who have since looked after the preservation of the site which is open to the public and incorporates a restaurant The castle is a heritage site in the meaning of the Hessian Monument Conservation Act Since 1995 its restoration has also been supported by the Federal Republic of Germany because it has been classified as a Monument of National Significances Denkmal von nationaler Bedeutung Description editThe circular walk across the castle terrain leads to a gaol with torture implements weapons and a wine cellar living rooms and a twin towered bergfried accessible on a spiral staircase On the pointed roof of the Brother Tower Bruderturm there is a gryphon German Greif a reference to the name of the castle as a weather vane In the tower itself is a peal of three bells with strike tones of F 1 A1 and C2 Attractions include the Village and Castle Museum Dorf und Burgmuseum one of the few double chapels in Germany The Chapel of St Catherine was built in 1462 as a fortified church in the Gothic style When the castle was converted into the Baroque style the castle courtyard was filled with earth with the result that today the chapel is below ground level It contains frescoes and arrow slits as well as casemates with vaulted ceilings and fighting rooms The Baroque church built above the fortified chapel from 1687 to 1702 is richly decorated with stuccos and is of the Italian Early Baroque period Upper and lower churches are linked by a staircase Walks around the castle and an educational herb garden make the site a popular destination Gallery edit nbsp Aerial view nbsp Front view from the air nbsp Front view nbsp The twin towers nbsp Mystical sideReferences edit http regesten regesta imperii de regshow php pk 44587 amp bandanzeige dead link http regesten regesta imperii de regshow php pk 44588 amp bandanzeige dead link Literature editGeorg Ulrich Grossmann Mittel und Sudhessen Lahntal Taunus Rheingau Wetterau Frankfurt und Maintal Kinzig Vogelsberg Rhon Bergstrasse und Odenwald DuMont Cologne 1995 ISBN 3 7701 2957 1 DuMont Kunst Reisefuhrer pp 45 48 Rudolf Knappe Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen 800 Burgen Burgruinen und Burgstatten 3rd edn Wartberg Verlag Gudensberg Gleichen 2000 ISBN 3 86134 228 6 pp 287 288 Schlosser Burgen alte Mauern Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei Wiesbaden 1990 pp 148 150 ISBN 3 89214 017 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greifenstein Castle nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Greifenstein Castle in Merian s Topographia Hassiae There is literature about Greifenstein Castle Hesse in the Hessian Bibliography Greifenstein Verein e V Greifenstein Castle Wolfgang Braun Artist s impression based on the model Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greifenstein Castle Hesse amp oldid 1077912833, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
