Nanstein Castle
| Nanstein Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name Burg Nanstein (German) | |
 Ruins of Nanstein Castle | |
| Location | Burgweg 1 66849 Landstuhl, Germany |
| Coordinates | 49°24′35.4″N 7°34′24.9″E / 49.409833°N 7.573583°E |
| Built | c. 1152 |
| Built for | Frederick I of Germany |
| Current use | Ruin, tourist attraction, festival hall, music venue, open-air theater, restaurant |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic, renaissance, other |
| Governing body | Municipal Association of Landstuhl |
| Owner | Government of Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Website | Nanstein Castle |
  Location in Germany | |
Nanstein Castle (German: Burg Nanstein) is a ruined medieval spur castle above the town of Landstuhl, Germany, which has been partially reconstructed. Built in the 12th century, the red sandstone rock castle was once owned by Franz von Sickingen who was mortally wounded during a siege of the castle in 1523.
History
[edit]
Frederick I of Germany had Nanstein Castle built about 1152. The medieval hill (spur) castle, situated above a 49 feet (15 m) high sandstone ledge, was originally part of the Hohenstaufen defenses guarding the imperial lands in the south-western Palatinate.[1]
Imperial Knight and Protestant reformer Franz von Sickingen modernized the castle in the 16th century and turned it into a citadel that was supposed to withstand the artillery of the age. In 1523 (during the so-called "Knights' War"),[1] the castle was besieged by the Archbishop of Trier, the Palatine Elector Louis V, and Philip, Landgrave of Hesse. Sickingen fell mortally wounded during the siege.[2]
Sickingen's sons received the partially destroyed castle back from Elector Louis V in 1542 (as a feudal tenure), and immediately rebuilt it in a Renaissance style. In 1668, the Elector Charles Louis captured the restored castle and had it partially destroyed.[1] French troops destroyed other parts in 1689. In the following centuries several repairs were made, but it remains a castle ruin.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Nanstein Castle, Landstuhl". Kreisverwaltung Kaiserslautern. January 13, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "Nanstein Castle". Verbandsgemeinde Landstuhl. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Morris, Will (November 22, 2018). "Landstuhl's Nanstein Castle is worth a visit, even for the most jaded sightseers". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
External links
[edit]Media related to Nanstein Castle at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Nanstein Castle at Legendary Castles of the Palatinate
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1150s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
- 12th-century fortifications
- Buildings and structures completed in the 1150s
- Buildings and structures in Landstuhl
- Castles in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Frederick Barbarossa
- Gothic architecture in Germany
- Hill castles
- Holy Roman Empire
- House of Sickingen
- Imperial castles
- Knights' War
- Nine Years' War
- Open-air museums in Germany
- Rebuilt buildings and structures in Germany
- Renaissance architecture in Germany
- Renaissance castles
- Ruined castles in Germany
- Sandstone buildings in Germany
- Tourist attractions in Landstuhl