Castle horn mountain
the castle horn mountain is former knights a castle on a steep mountain spur over the Neckartal above the place Neckarzimmern between bath Wimpfen and MOS brook. Götz of Berlichingen used the castle as age seat. In the periphery of the castle on steep terraces viticulture is operated.
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plant
the castle plant lies on a narrow mountain spur and extends over a length of 170m. It originally consisted of two separated plants, which were enclosed in the late Middle Ages with a common wall.
The lower fore-castle with the today's restaurant, the gate building and the Marstall is the older plant. From this one reaches the upper gate building and the main castle by means of a kennel. To the main castle still two further housings belong beside Schildmauer, donjon , castle chapel and Palas. The Schildmauer reaches today a height of 7.50 meters. Originally it was probably still higher. Past at the powder tower with in swindle-exciting height a lying enters one retires the main castle. In the main castle the Palas (1502) is received still as ruin. The slim to the attack side semicircular and at the back (south side) flattened donjon stands in the highest place and is 33 m highly. The underbody underneath the rundbogigen gate is perfectly substantial. Into the two basements timber ceilings drew. The only light openings form narrow Schlitzfenster on the back. The walls of the highest tower room are broken through by six differently large windows, which grant a wonderful prospect in all directions. The original entrance was at a value of something over 15 meters. The donjon was removed by the Berlichingen.
Behind the donjon the castle chapel from that stands for 15. Century, a rather simple building. Into the inside one arrives by a spitzbogiges portal with coat of arms sign. The interior is spanned by Kreuzgewölben. Under the chapel is closely those from Gemmingen. The kennels became in 13. and in 15. Century supplements and changed. A further kennel and the large Palas followed in 16. Century.
The imposanteste building of the main castle is the Palas with Wendelstein. It became of Jakob von Berlichingen in 16. Century builds. The areas of the basement served as kitchen, baking room and storages. In the baker's shop still remainders of two baking-ovens are to be seen. The kitchen will by a gothical serrate-tightness-curve spanned, its Schlusssteine of coats of arms to become affected. The upper floor forms a large area, the so-called knight's hall. At the east wall an old fire-place is to be seen between two Doppelfenstern. Wendelstein, a hexagonal stair tower, is the youngest construction unit of the main castle. It was built for 1573 of Philipp Ernst von Berlichingen. Particularly artful the portal is arranged. Beside the rundbogigen entrance rise over two Fratzengesichtern swung half columns with enrich ornamental art, bekrönt from Kapitellen, Akanthusreihen and Engelsköpfchen. Across the Kapitellen Pilaster lead further upward up to the Kranzgesims. A giebelbekrönte Steinplatte with the coat of arms of those forms the upper conclusion from Berlichingen. Wendelstein drove up to the donjon entrance and form at the same time the entrance to the museum in the Palas.
history
probable in the 11. Century based; the first documentary mention of the castle proves 1184 the counts von Lauffen as an owner. After becoming extinct this sex the Mr. von Dürn (Walldürn) arrived into the possession of the plant. 1263 did the brothers Junker of Dürn in favor of the bishop von Speyer without their rights. Thus was high pin the Speyer owner of the castle horn mountain with the pertinent villages Neckarzimmern and Steinbach. The owners frequently changing in the consequence had itself of Speyer belehnen to leave. Already 1283 arose with the Pfauen of horn mountain a new sex, which called itself late horn corner of horn mountain.
In the year 1330 bishop Walram von Speyer (1328 to 1336 ) saw itself forced due to its strong indebtedness to entrust the care of its high pin including its possessions the archbishop Trier. It succeeded to the successor whale RAM very fast to settle the debt at Trier so that already 1338 castle horn mountain and all other possessions returned again to the possession of the diocese Speyer, which held Neckarzimmern and Steinbach from now to the Lehensherrlichkeit over the castle as well as the appropriate villages until 1803. After 1341 the village Steinbach had been fastened, castle horn mountain received a special meaning for the diocese Speyer as protection fortress. To center 15. Century functioned it as eastern bulwark of the high pin. Then sold Speyer Neckarzimmern and Steinbach at Lutz bulkhead, shortly thereafter he became also owner of the castle. Already 1474 however conquered cure prince of the Pfalz Friedrich of the victorious castle horn mountain. In the course' it succeeded ‚to the Bavarian feud to 1504 Conz bulkhead of Scot stone to back-conquer the horn mountain as well as Neckarzimmern and Steinbach.
1517 bought Götz of Berlichingen, the knight with the iron hand, the castle for 6500 guldens of Conz bulkhead and lived here up to its death 1562. By the farmer rebellion 1525 castle horn mountain remained spared, since Götz of Berlichingen force-measured captain with the insurgent ones was temporary. Because of its participation in the farmer war he was ordered 1528 to Augsburg and imprisoned-set for two years. Only after he had sworn Urfehde, the district of horn mountain no longer too leave to carry compensation out and no revenge to practice, he was released. An accusation procedure before the Bundestag of the Swabian federation ended short time later with a conditioned acquietal, the Urfehde became 1541 of emperor Karl V. waived. On the castle it dictated its life history, which served Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as collecting main for its “Götz of Berlichingen “. 1562 died the “knight with the iron hand” at the age of 82 years. After the death of Götz one let already before the around and extension buildings begun accomplish its grandchild, Philipp Ernst, starting from 1573 forced and to make improvements on the fortress works. However it financial difficulties and process already moved 1602 and/or. Complaints, which led its subjects against it, to up to the imperial court, to the sales.
finally 1612 bought the kurfürstliche pfälzische advice in Michelfeld, pure hard of Gemmingen, castle horn mountain with Neckarzimmern and Steinbach. The Mr. von Gemmingen Hornberg are to today owners of the castle. Already 1630 shifted the herrschaftliche family their domicile of the mountain in the valley. In the dreissigjährigen one war was several times occupied and geplündert the plant (1634, 1645) and in the Pfälzi succession war (1689) of the Frenchmen destroys completely. The plant remained preisgegebeben over one hundred years uninhabited and the purge. The heavily damaged lock was again repaired 1825. The tower and the stairs were again developed, a new roof was attached and new windows were used. The castle became however only up to the end 19. Century inhabits.
In the 2. Half 20. Century took place extensive restoration measures. The former Marstall of the castle horn mountain was converted to a panorama restaurant with far view over the Neckartal. Later hotel rooms were furnished, so that castle horn mountain presents itself today as comfortable castle hotel surrounded by vineyards. A museum was furnished to 1968 of Hans wolf baron von Gemmingen with consisting of own possession and new advertisements in the tower and the former kitchen of the castle (the museum was shifted 1994 into the wine sales in the lower Burghof). Weapons and arms from the Middle Ages, under it the original armament Götz of Berlichingens, are pointed as well as a documentation to the history of the castle. Beside the castle also the historical wine cellar can be visited.
 View of the Neckartal and Hassmersheim of castle horn mountain |
see also
with the castle horn mountain is linked also a variant of the legend around Notburga.
