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Coordinates: 49°49′11″N 8°54′40″E / 49.8196°N 8.9111°E / 49.8196; 8.9111
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{{Infobox Burg
{{Infobox military installation
|Name = Otzberg Castle
| name = Otzberg Castle
| image = Veste_Otzberg.jpg
|Alternativname = castrum Othesberg<br />
| image2 =
Veste Otzberg
| caption = Otzberg Castle seen from the southeast
|Bild = Veste_Otzberg.jpg
| native_name = castrum Othesberg<br />Veste Otzberg
|Bildbeschreibung = Otzberg Castle seen from the southeast
|Entstehungszeit = First recorded in 1231
| built = First recorded in 1231
| type = [[hill castle]]
|Typologie n. geo. Lage = Höhenburg
|Erhaltungszustand = Preserved with the exception of the barracks and [[kemenate]]
| condition = Preserved with the exception of the barracks and [[cabinet (room)|cabinet]]
| materials =
|Ständische Stellung = Ministeriale
| location = [[Hering (Otzberg)|Hering]]
|Abmessungen oder Fläche = 60&nbsp;x&nbsp;60&nbsp;m
| occupants = [[ministeriales]]
|Mauerwerksmerkmale =
| coordinates = {{coord|49.8196 |8.9111 |type:landmark_region:DE-HE|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
|Heutiger Ortsname = [[Hering (Otzberg)|Hering]]
| map_type = Hesse#Germany
|Breitengrad = 49.81972
| code = DE-HE
|Längengrad = 8.91083
| height = {{Höhe|367|DE-NN|link=true}}
|Region-ISO = DE-HE
|Höhenordinate = 367
|Höhe-Bezug = DE-NN
}}
}}


'''Otzberg Castle''' ({{lang-de|Veste Otzberg}}) in the German state of [[Hesse]] is a medieval castle on the summit of the [[Otzberg (volcano)|Otzberg]] in the [[Odenwald]] forest at a height of 367&nbsp;m&nbsp;above NN. On its northern slopes is the village of [[Hering (Otzberg)|Hering]], which grew out of the [[lower ward]] or [[castellan]]'s settlement. The history of castle and village is therefore closely interwoven.
'''Otzberg Castle''' ({{langx|de|Veste Otzberg}}) in the German state of [[Hesse]] is a medieval castle on the summit of the [[Otzberg (volcano)|Otzberg]] in the [[Odenwald]] forest at a height of 367&nbsp;m&nbsp;above NN. On its northern slopes is the village of [[Hering (Otzberg)|Hering]], which grew out of the [[lower ward]] or [[castellan]]'s settlement. The history of castle and village is therefore closely interwoven.
<!--
== Geschichte ==
Das Gebiet um den Otzberg gehörte vermutlich zu dem Territorium, das König [[Pippin der Jüngere|Pippin]] 766 dem [[Kloster Fulda]] zusammen mit [[Groß-Umstadt]] schenkte.


== History ==
Die Veste Otzberg dürfte Ende des 12., Anfang des 13. Jahrhunderts gebaut worden sein.
The region around the Otzberg probably belonged to the territory that King [[Pippin the Younger|Pippin]] gifted in 766 A.D. to [[Fulda Abbey]], together with [[Groß-Umstadt]].
Zu dieser Zeit sicherte der Abt [[Markward|Marquard&nbsp;I.&nbsp;von&nbsp;Fulda]] den Klosterbesitz und errichtete weithin sichtbare Burgen als Zeichen seines Einflusses.


Otzberg Castle was probably built in the late 12th/early 13th century.
: ''...Hier ist eine Stelle für eine Burg…''<ref>Die Gesta Marcuardi, in: Traditiones et Antiquitates Fuldenses, Fulda 1844</ref>
At this time, Abbot [[Markward, Abbot of Fulda|Marquard&nbsp;I&nbsp;of&nbsp;Fulda]] secured the abbey estates and built castles that were visible from a long way as a sign of his influence.


: ''...Here is a site for a castle…''<ref>Die Gesta Marcuardi, in: Traditiones et Antiquitates Fuldenses, Fulda, 1844</ref>
Er übergab die Burg an [[Konrad der Staufer|Konrad den Staufer]], den Bruder des [[Friedrich I. (HRR)|Kaisers Friedrich Barbarossa]], als [[Vogt]]. Der Staufer war Pfalzgraf bei Rhein.


He transferred the castle to [[Conrad of Hohenstaufen]], brother of the [[Frederick I (HRR)|Emperor Frederick Barbarossa]], as ''[[vogt]]''. Conrad was Count Palatine of the Rhine.
Erstmals wurde das ''castrum Othesberg'' 1231 in einer Urkunde erwähnt.
In dieser Urkunde garantiert der [[Liste der Bischöfe von Mainz|Mainzer Erzbischof]] [[Siegfried III. von Eppstein|Siegfried&nbsp;III.]], gleichzeitig Verwalter der [[Kloster Fulda|Abtei Fulda]], dem [[Otto II. (Bayern)|Pfalzgrafen Otto&nbsp;II.]] die im Jahr zuvor getroffene Abmachung, deren Inhalt nicht bekannt ist.


The ''castrum Othesberg'' was first mentioned in the records in 1231. In this document the [[List of bishops of Mainz|Archbishop of Mainz]], [[Siegfried III of Eppstein|Siegfried&nbsp;III]], also the overseer of [[Fulda Abbey]], guaranteed to [[Otto II Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria|Count Palatine Otto&nbsp;II]] the arrangement agreed in the previous year, the details of which are unknown.
1244 tauchten erstmals ''castellanos de odesbrech'', [[Burgmannen]] der Burg Otzberg auf. Die Verteidigungsanlage muss soweit fertiggestellt gewesen sein, dass fünf Burgmannen mitsamt ihren Knechten die Anlage besetzen konnten. Die Burgmannen errichteten in der Ortschaft Hering Höfe, sogenannte Burgmannenhäuser. Von diesen sind noch Teile des Anwesens der [[Gans von Otzberg]] erhalten.


In 1244 the ''castellanos de odesbrech'' are mentioned for the first time: the castellans or ''[[Burgmannen]]'' of Otzberg Castle. The fortifications must have been sufficiently developed that five castellans and their servants were able to occupy it. The castellans built houses in the village of Hering, so-called "castellan's houses" or ''Burgmannenhäuser''. Of these only parts of the house owned by [[Gans of Otzberg]] have survived.
Anfang des 14. Jahrhunderts gingen dem Kloster Fulda die Mittel aus, deshalb verpfändete Fürstabt Heinrich VI. von Hohenberg 1332 die Veste Otzberg sowie den fuldischen Anteil von [[Groß-Umstadt|Umstadt]] für 4600 Pfund [[Heller (Münze)|Heller]] an Werner von Anevelt und Engelhard von Frankenstein, die auf der Veste Otzberg Bauten für 200 Pfund ausführen ließen.


In the early 14th century, the resources of Fulda Abbey ran out so, in 1332, Prince-Abbot Henry VI of Hohenberg enfeoffed Otzberg Castle and the Fulda part of [[Groß-Umstadt|Umstadt]] for 4,600 pounds of [[Heller (money)|Heller]] to Werner of Anevelt and Engelhard of [[House of Franckenstein|Franckenstein]], who carried out building work at Otzberg to the tune of 200 pounds.
Fulda löste das Gut 1374 wieder ein, verpfändete aber noch im gleichen Jahr ''Otsperg die burg'', ''Heringes die stat darundir'' sowie die Hälfte von Umstadt für 23.875 [[Gulden]] an [[Ulrich IV. (Hanau)|Ulrich von Hanau]], der wiederum in der Burg Baumaßnahmen für 400 Gulden durchführte.


In 1374 Fulda redeemed the estate again, but enfeoffed in the same year ''Otsperg die burg'' ("Otzberg the castle"), ''Heringes die stat darundir'' ("Hering the town below it") and half of Umstadt for 23,875 [[guilder]]s to [[Ulrich IV of Hanau|Ulrich of Hanau]], who also carried out work on the castle, for 400 guilders.
Im Jahr 1390 verkaufte das Kloster Otzberg und Hering sowie die Hälfte von Umstadt mit der [[Hanau (Adelsgeschlecht)|Hanauer]] Pfandschaft, die mittlerweile auf 33.000 Gulden erhöht worden war, an Pfalzgraf [[Ruprecht II. (Pfalz)|Ruprecht II.]].


In 1390 the abbey sold Otzberg and Hering and the half of Umstadt with the [[House of Hanau|Hanau]] fief, which had meanwhile increased in value to 33,000 guilders, to Count Palatine [[Rupert II of the Palatinate|Rupert II]].
1504 wurde die [[Landshuter Erbfolgekrieg|Bayerische Fehde]] teilweise auch am Otzberg ausgetragen. Im Streit um das Landshuter Erbe wurde von [[Maximilian I. (HRR)|Kaiser Maximilian]] gegen [[Philipp (Pfalz)|Pfalzgraf Philipp]] wegen Landfriedensbruchs die [[Reichsacht]] erklärt. Landgraf [[Wilhelm II. (Hessen)|Wilhelm&nbsp;II. von Hessen]] nahm militärisch die Veste Otzberg ein. Nach dem [[Reichstag (HRR)|Reichstag von Konstanz]] 1507 holte sich die Kurpfalz das Amt Otzberg zurück und gab den Besitz nicht mehr heraus. Die Waffentechnik hatte sich jedoch geändert, sodass die Veste nicht mehr alleine durch Burgmannen gehalten werden konnte. Ab 1511 wurden ein [[Zwinger (Architektur)|Zwinger]] erbaut, der innere Mauerring verstärkt und ein neues Torhaus errichtet.


In 1504 the [[Landshut War of Succession|Bavarian Feud]] partly involved Otzberg. In the dispute over the Landshut succession, [[Maximilian I (HRR)|Emperor Maximilian]] imposed the [[imperial ban]] on [[Philip of the Palatinate|Count Palatine Philip]] for a breach of the ''[[Landfrieden]]''. Landgrave [[William II of Hesse]] seized Otzberg by force. After the [[Reichstag (HRR)|Reichstag of Constance]] in 1507, Electoral Palatinate received the ''[[Amt (district)|Amt]]'' of Otzberg back again and did not enfeoff it again. But weapon technology had changed so that the castle could no longer simply be held by castellans. In 1511, a ''[[Zwinger (castle)|Zwinger]]'' was built, the inner wall was strengthened and a new gatehouse built.
In der Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts wurde auch um die [[Vorburg]] (das Dorf Hering) eine steinerne [[Stadtmauer]] erbaut.


In the mid-16th century a stone [[town wall]] was built around the [[lower ward]] (the village of Hering).
1621, während des [[Dreißigjähriger Krieg|Dreißigjährigen Krieges]], quartierte sich ein bayerisches Corps mit 2000 Mann sowie kaiserliche und spanische Truppen im Raum Otzberg-Umstadt ein und belagerten die Veste Otzberg. Ein Jahr später, 1622, kapitulierte die Besatzung der Burg.
Die Veste und das Amt Otzberg sowie die Hälfte von Umstadt gingen 1623 wieder an Hessen, das sie als Entschädigung für erlittene Kriegsschäden erhielt.


In 1621, during the [[Thirty Years' War]], a Bavarian corps of 2,000 men and imperial and Spanish troops camped in the area of Otzberg-Umstadt and besieged Otzberg Castle. A year later, in 1622, the garrison surrendered the castle. The castle and ''amt'' of Otzberg as well as half of Umstadt went back to Hesse in 1623 as compensation for war damage suffered.
1647 nahmen die [[Geschichte Frankreichs|Franzosen]] die [[Veste]] ein. Sie richteten sich auf der Burg ein und bedienten sich an den noch vorhandenen Lebensmitteln. Mit dem [[Westfälischer Friede|Westfälischen Frieden]] 1648 kam Otzberg wieder an die Pfalz.


In 1647 the [[History of France|French]] took the castle. They based themselves at the castle and helped themselves to the food and provisions. As a result of the [[Peace of Westphalia]] in 1648 Otzberg was returned to the Palatinate.
Obwohl im französischen Krieg die ganze Pfalz in französischer Hand war, blieben die beiden Ämter Otzberg und Umstadt kurpfälzisch. Damals lagerte auf der Veste Otzberg das Pfälzische Archiv, aus dem die Besitzansprüche für einen Neuanfang nachgewiesen werden konnten.


Although the whole of the Palatinate was in French hands during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the two ''Ämter'' of Otzberg and Umstadt remained Electoral Palatine. At that time the Palatine Archives were stored at Otzberg Castle, in which one can read the property claims for a new era.
Mit der Stabilisierung der politischen Verhältnisse hatte die Veste Otzberg ihre militärische Bedeutung für die Pfälzer verloren. Nach und nach wurden ab 1711 aktive Soldaten durch Invaliden ersetzt, so dass die Veste Otzberg sich ab 1720 als reine Invalidengarnison darstellte, die die darin einsitzenden Gefangenen bewachte.


With the stabilisation of the political situation, Otzberg Castle lost its military importance for the Palatinate. From 1711 active service soldiers were gradually replaced by disabled veterans, so that from 1720 the castle became purely an invalids' garrison that guarded the prisoners incarcerated there.
[[Datei:Tor Veste Otzberg.jpg|miniatur|Wer diesen Ring durchbeißt, dem gehört die Veste, so eine Sage]]
[[Datei:Veste_Otzberg_1900.jpg|miniatur|Innenhof Anno 1900]]


[[File:Tor Veste Otzberg.jpg|thumb|According to legend, whoever bites through this ring owns the castle]]
1802 ging das kurpfälzische Oberamt Otzberg an die [[Landgrafschaft Hessen-Darmstadt]] über, welche es ab [[1803]] als Staatsgefängnis nutzte.
[[File:Veste_Otzberg_1900.jpg|thumb|The inner courtyard in 1900]]


In 1802 the Electoral Palatine ''Oberamt'' of Otzberg went to the [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt]], which used it from 1803 as a state prison.
Im Jahre 1818 wurde die Veste Otzberg als Standort aufgegeben.


In 1818 Otzberg Castle was abandoned as a military location.
Am 25. Juli 1826 erging eine Verfügung des Finanzministeriums in Darmstadt, den Turm der Veste, das Kommandantenhaus mit den kleinen Ställen, die Arztwohnung, den Stall bei der Marketenderei, das Brunnenhaus und die Neue Kaserne (Bandhaus) zu erhalten. Alle anderen Gebäude sollten auf Abriss verkauft werden.


On 25 July 1826 the Finance Ministry in Darmstadt issued a decree that the tower of the castle, the commandant's house with its small stables, the doctor's house, the stable near the Marketenderei, the well house and the new barracks (''Bandhaus'') should be preserved. All other buildings should be sold for demolition.
1921 wurde das Bandhaus zur [[Jugendherberge]] ausgebaut.
In den 1950er Jahren befand sich eine Forststelle und eine Gaststätte im Kommandantenhaus. Das Kommandantenhaus wurde bis Mitte der sechziger Jahre gemeinsam als Forsthaus und Gaststätte genutzt und danach mit wechselnden Pächtern als Gaststätte weitergeführt.


In 1921 the ''Bandhaus'' was converted into a [[youth hostel]].
Ab 1985 zog das Museum ''Sammlung zur Volkskunde in Hessen'' in das Bandhaus ein. 1996 wurde das Korporalshaus wieder aufgebaut. Es wird seitdem als Museumsgebäude und [[Standesamt]] der Gemeinde Otzberg genutzt.


In the 1950s a forestry office and a restaurant were housed in the commandant's house. This arrangement continued until the mid-60s when the place was rented to various tenants to run the restaurant.
== Militär ==
Die Bewohner waren von Anfang an Soldaten; im 14. Jahrhundert lebten dort oben sechs Männer, um 1471 war von 14&nbsp;Personen die Rede. Spezialisierte Soldtruppen kamen erst im 16. Jahrhundert dazu, zu der Zeit, als das Anwesen zur wehrhaften Festung ausgebaut wurde.


In 1985, a museum the Collection of Folk Art in Hesse (''Sammlung zur Volkskunde in Hessen'') moved into the ''Bandhaus''. In 1996 the ''Korporalshaus'' was rebuilt. It has since been used as a museum building and location for the ''[[Standesamt]]'' of the municipality of Otzberg.
== Baubeschreibung ==
[[Datei:Lageplay Veste Otzberg2.jpg|thumb|Lageplan der Veste Otzberg]]


== Military ==
Die Gestalt der Festung wird geprägt durch die im 16. Jahrhundert errichteten doppelten Ringmauern, die eine ovale Form beschreiben, und den [[Bergfried]], der [[Romanik|romanischen]] Ursprungs ist. Der Charakter ist immer noch der einer Festung aus der Zeit nach Einführung der Artillerie, typische Burgeigenschaften wie Turmlandschaften fehlen völlig.
The occupants from the outset were soldiers; in the 14th century, six men lived there; around 1471 there were 14&nbsp;people. Specialised paid soldiers first appeared in the 16th century when the place was converted into a defensible fortification.


=== Bergfried ===
== Description ==
[[File:Lageplay Veste Otzberg2.jpg|thumb|Plan of Otzberg Castle]]
Der Bergfried, im Volksmund auch ''Weiße Rübe'' genannt, ist das älteste Gebäude der Veste Otzberg. Auf der 17 Meter hohen ''Weißen Rübe'' kann man an schönen Tagen über den ganzen [[Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg]] bis nach [[Frankfurt am Main]] und den [[Taunus]] schauen.


The appearance of the fortress is dominated by its double concentric walls built in the 16th century and oval in shape, and the ''[[bergfried]]'' which is of [[Romanesque (architecture)|Romanesque]] origin. Its character is still that of a fortress from the time after the introduction of artillery, typical castle features, like towers are entirely missing.
=== Brunnen ===
Der Burgbrunnen von ca. 1320 an der Durchfahrt ist einer der tiefsten Brunnen Hessens. Nach neueren Ausgrabungen wird die Tiefe des Brunnens nun auf circa 50&nbsp;Meter geschätzt. Daneben steht das 1788 eingebaute Tretrad, das die Wasserförderung damals erheblich erleichterte.


=== Kommandantenhaus ===
=== ''Bergfried'' ===
The ''bergfried'', also known locally as the ''Weiße Rübe'' ("White Beet", also the name for the wild turnip), is the oldest building in the castle. On clear days the visitor can see the whole of the county of [[Darmstadt-Dieburg]] and as far as the city of [[Frankfurt am Main]] and the [[Taunus]] hills from the top of the 17-metre-high keep.
Das Kommandantenhaus, in dem sich heute die [[Burgschänke]] befindet, entstand 1574 zusammen mit mehreren anderen neuen Gebäuden.


=== Palas ===
=== Well ===
The [[castle well]] dates to about 1320 and is one of the deepest wells in Hesse. After recent excavations the depth of the well has now been estimated as about 50&nbsp;metres. Next to it is a 1788 [[treadwheel]] that made it considerably easier to raise water.
Der Palas beheimatet das Museum Otzberg – Sammlung zur Volkskunde in Hessen.


=== Kaserne/Kemenate ===
=== Commandant's house ===
The commandant's house (''Kommandantenhaus''), in which the castle pub is housed today, was built in 1574 together with several other new buildings.
Die frühere Kemenate wurde später als Kaserne genutzt. Wegen der ''hessischen Abrissverfügung'' von 1806 wurde sie als eines der wenigen Gebäude auf der Veste Otzberg zerstört. Heute sind nur noch die Grundmauern zu erkennen.


=== Korporalshaus ===
=== ''Palas'' ===
The ''[[palas]]'' houses the Otzberg Museum – Documenting the history of Veste Otzberg.
Das 1996 wieder aufgebaute Korporalshaus dient als Trauzimmer der Gemeinde Otzberg.

-->
=== Barracks/cabinet room ===
The old [[cabinet room]] was later used as a barrack. Due to the Hessian demolition decree (''hessischen Abrissverfügung'') of 1806 it was one of the few buildings that was destroyed at Otzberg Castle. Today, only the wall foundations remain.

=== Corporal's house ===
The "corporal's house" (''Korporalshaus''), rebuilt in 1996 is used as a registry by the municipality of Otzberg.


<gallery caption="Buildings of Otzberg Castle">
<gallery caption="Buildings of Otzberg Castle">
Line 103: Line 98:
File:Brunnen Veste Otzberg.JPG|Well house
File:Brunnen Veste Otzberg.JPG|Well house
File:Bergfried Veste Otzberg.jpg|The ''bergfried''
File:Bergfried Veste Otzberg.jpg|The ''bergfried''
File:Veste_Otzberg_Kommandantenhaus.jpg|Kommandantenhaus
File:Veste_Otzberg_Kommandantenhaus.jpg|Commandant's house
File:Kemenate Veste Otzberg.jpg|Kaserne/Kemenate
File:Kemenate Veste Otzberg.jpg|Barracks/cabinet room
File:Koroaralhaus Veste Otzberg.jpg|Korporalshaus
File:Koroaralhaus Veste Otzberg.jpg|"Korporalshaus"
File:Veste_Otzberg_Suedbauten.JPG|Korporalshaus and ''palas''
File:Veste_Otzberg_Suedbauten.JPG|"Korporalshaus" and ''palas''
File:Palas Veste Otzberg.jpg|The ''palas''
File:Palas Veste Otzberg.jpg|The ''palas''
File:Veste_Otzberg_Palas.jpg|South side of the ''palas''
File:Veste_Otzberg_Palas.jpg|South side of the ''palas''
Line 112: Line 107:


== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* Wolfram Becher: ''Name und Ursprung der Burg Otzberg.'' In: ''Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des [[Breuberg-Bund]]es'' 26/1, 1979, pp.&nbsp;3–26.
* Wolfram Becher: ''Name und Ursprung der Burg Otzberg.'' In: ''Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des Breuberg-Bundes'' 26/1, 1979, pp.&nbsp;3–26.
* Thomas Biller: ''Burgen und Schlösser im Odenwald. Ein Führer zu Geschichte und Architektur.'' Schnell und Steiner, Regensburg, 2005, ISBN 3-7954-1711-2, pp.&nbsp;189–192.
* Thomas Biller: ''Burgen und Schlösser im Odenwald. Ein Führer zu Geschichte und Architektur.'' Schnell und Steiner, Regensburg, 2005, {{ISBN|3-7954-1711-2}}, pp.&nbsp;189–192.
* Thomas Steinmetz: ''Zur Frühgeschichte der Burg Otzberg''. In: ''Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des Breuberg-Bundes''. 51st annual issue (2004), Heft 2, {{ISSN|020-6360}}, pp.&nbsp;43−57.
* Thomas Steinmetz: ''Zur Frühgeschichte der Burg Otzberg''. In: ''Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des Breuberg-Bundes''. 51st annual issue (2004), Heft 2, {{ISSN|0029-8360}}, pp.&nbsp;43−57.
* Axel W. Gleue: ''Otzberg Burg-Festung-Kaserne''. Otzberg, 2003.
* Axel W. Gleue: ''Otzberg Burg-Festung-Kaserne''. Otzberg, 2003.
* Rudolf Knappe: ''Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen: 800 Burgen, Burgruinen und Burgstätten.'' 3rd edn. Wartberg-Verlag. Gudensberg-Gleichen, 2000. ISBN 3-86134-228-6, pp.&nbsp;540−542.
* Rudolf Knappe: ''Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen: 800 Burgen, Burgruinen und Burgstätten.'' 3rd edn. Wartberg-Verlag. Gudensberg-Gleichen, 2000. {{ISBN|3-86134-228-6}}, pp.&nbsp;540−542.
* ''Schlösser, Burgen, alte Mauern.'' Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden, 1990, ISBN 3-89214-017-0, pp.&nbsp;287–289.
* ''Schlösser, Burgen, alte Mauern.'' Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden, 1990, {{ISBN|3-89214-017-0}}, pp.&nbsp;287–289.


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Veste Otzberg|Otzberg Castle}}
{{Commons category|Veste Otzberg|Otzberg Castle}}
* [http://www.burgenwelt.de/otzberg/otzberg.htm Otzberg Castle] at burgenwelt.de
* [http://www.burgenwelt.de/otzberg/otzberg.htm Otzberg Castle] at burgenwelt.de
* [http://www.museum-otzberg.de/ Otzberg Museum]
* [http://www.museum-otzberg.de/ Otzberg Museum]
* [http://forschung.gnm.de/ressourcen/schloesser/XML/057_HeringOtzberg_Burg.xml DFG project Renaissance Palaces in Hesse]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101116022749/http://forschung.gnm.de/ressourcen/schloesser/XML/057_HeringOtzberg_Burg.xml DFG project Renaissance Palaces in Hesse]


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Navigationsleiste Burgen und Schlösser im Odenwald}}
{{Navigationsleiste Burgen und Schlösser im Odenwald}}
-->
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{{Castles in Odenwald}}


[[Category:Hill castles]]
[[Category:Hill castles]]
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[[Category:Odenwald]]
[[Category:Odenwald]]
[[Category:Electoral Palatinate]]
[[Category:Electoral Palatinate]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Darmstadt-Dieburg]]

[[de:Veste Otzberg]]

Latest revision as of 06:00, 31 October 2024

Otzberg Castle
castrum Othesberg
Veste Otzberg
Hering
Otzberg Castle seen from the southeast
Otzberg Castle is located in Hesse
Otzberg Castle
Otzberg Castle
Otzberg Castle is located in Germany
Otzberg Castle
Otzberg Castle
Coordinates49°49′11″N 8°54′40″E / 49.8196°N 8.9111°E / 49.8196; 8.9111
Typehill castle
CodeDE-HE
Height367 m above sea level (NN)
Site information
ConditionPreserved with the exception of the barracks and cabinet
Site history
BuiltFirst recorded in 1231
Garrison information
Occupantsministeriales

Otzberg Castle (German: Veste Otzberg) in the German state of Hesse is a medieval castle on the summit of the Otzberg in the Odenwald forest at a height of 367 m above NN. On its northern slopes is the village of Hering, which grew out of the lower ward or castellan's settlement. The history of castle and village is therefore closely interwoven.

History

[edit]

The region around the Otzberg probably belonged to the territory that King Pippin gifted in 766 A.D. to Fulda Abbey, together with Groß-Umstadt.

Otzberg Castle was probably built in the late 12th/early 13th century. At this time, Abbot Marquard I of Fulda secured the abbey estates and built castles that were visible from a long way as a sign of his influence.

...Here is a site for a castle…[1]

He transferred the castle to Conrad of Hohenstaufen, brother of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, as vogt. Conrad was Count Palatine of the Rhine.

The castrum Othesberg was first mentioned in the records in 1231. In this document the Archbishop of Mainz, Siegfried III, also the overseer of Fulda Abbey, guaranteed to Count Palatine Otto II the arrangement agreed in the previous year, the details of which are unknown.

In 1244 the castellanos de odesbrech are mentioned for the first time: the castellans or Burgmannen of Otzberg Castle. The fortifications must have been sufficiently developed that five castellans and their servants were able to occupy it. The castellans built houses in the village of Hering, so-called "castellan's houses" or Burgmannenhäuser. Of these only parts of the house owned by Gans of Otzberg have survived.

In the early 14th century, the resources of Fulda Abbey ran out so, in 1332, Prince-Abbot Henry VI of Hohenberg enfeoffed Otzberg Castle and the Fulda part of Umstadt for 4,600 pounds of Heller to Werner of Anevelt and Engelhard of Franckenstein, who carried out building work at Otzberg to the tune of 200 pounds.

In 1374 Fulda redeemed the estate again, but enfeoffed in the same year Otsperg die burg ("Otzberg the castle"), Heringes die stat darundir ("Hering the town below it") and half of Umstadt for 23,875 guilders to Ulrich of Hanau, who also carried out work on the castle, for 400 guilders.

In 1390 the abbey sold Otzberg and Hering and the half of Umstadt with the Hanau fief, which had meanwhile increased in value to 33,000 guilders, to Count Palatine Rupert II.

In 1504 the Bavarian Feud partly involved Otzberg. In the dispute over the Landshut succession, Emperor Maximilian imposed the imperial ban on Count Palatine Philip for a breach of the Landfrieden. Landgrave William II of Hesse seized Otzberg by force. After the Reichstag of Constance in 1507, Electoral Palatinate received the Amt of Otzberg back again and did not enfeoff it again. But weapon technology had changed so that the castle could no longer simply be held by castellans. In 1511, a Zwinger was built, the inner wall was strengthened and a new gatehouse built.

In the mid-16th century a stone town wall was built around the lower ward (the village of Hering).

In 1621, during the Thirty Years' War, a Bavarian corps of 2,000 men and imperial and Spanish troops camped in the area of Otzberg-Umstadt and besieged Otzberg Castle. A year later, in 1622, the garrison surrendered the castle. The castle and amt of Otzberg as well as half of Umstadt went back to Hesse in 1623 as compensation for war damage suffered.

In 1647 the French took the castle. They based themselves at the castle and helped themselves to the food and provisions. As a result of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 Otzberg was returned to the Palatinate.

Although the whole of the Palatinate was in French hands during the Napoleonic Wars, the two Ämter of Otzberg and Umstadt remained Electoral Palatine. At that time the Palatine Archives were stored at Otzberg Castle, in which one can read the property claims for a new era.

With the stabilisation of the political situation, Otzberg Castle lost its military importance for the Palatinate. From 1711 active service soldiers were gradually replaced by disabled veterans, so that from 1720 the castle became purely an invalids' garrison that guarded the prisoners incarcerated there.

According to legend, whoever bites through this ring owns the castle
The inner courtyard in 1900

In 1802 the Electoral Palatine Oberamt of Otzberg went to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, which used it from 1803 as a state prison.

In 1818 Otzberg Castle was abandoned as a military location.

On 25 July 1826 the Finance Ministry in Darmstadt issued a decree that the tower of the castle, the commandant's house with its small stables, the doctor's house, the stable near the Marketenderei, the well house and the new barracks (Bandhaus) should be preserved. All other buildings should be sold for demolition.

In 1921 the Bandhaus was converted into a youth hostel.

In the 1950s a forestry office and a restaurant were housed in the commandant's house. This arrangement continued until the mid-60s when the place was rented to various tenants to run the restaurant.

In 1985, a museum the Collection of Folk Art in Hesse (Sammlung zur Volkskunde in Hessen) moved into the Bandhaus. In 1996 the Korporalshaus was rebuilt. It has since been used as a museum building and location for the Standesamt of the municipality of Otzberg.

Military

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The occupants from the outset were soldiers; in the 14th century, six men lived there; around 1471 there were 14 people. Specialised paid soldiers first appeared in the 16th century when the place was converted into a defensible fortification.

Description

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Plan of Otzberg Castle

The appearance of the fortress is dominated by its double concentric walls built in the 16th century and oval in shape, and the bergfried which is of Romanesque origin. Its character is still that of a fortress from the time after the introduction of artillery, typical castle features, like towers are entirely missing.

Bergfried

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The bergfried, also known locally as the Weiße Rübe ("White Beet", also the name for the wild turnip), is the oldest building in the castle. On clear days the visitor can see the whole of the county of Darmstadt-Dieburg and as far as the city of Frankfurt am Main and the Taunus hills from the top of the 17-metre-high keep.

Well

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The castle well dates to about 1320 and is one of the deepest wells in Hesse. After recent excavations the depth of the well has now been estimated as about 50 metres. Next to it is a 1788 treadwheel that made it considerably easier to raise water.

Commandant's house

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The commandant's house (Kommandantenhaus), in which the castle pub is housed today, was built in 1574 together with several other new buildings.

Palas

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The palas houses the Otzberg Museum – Documenting the history of Veste Otzberg.

Barracks/cabinet room

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The old cabinet room was later used as a barrack. Due to the Hessian demolition decree (hessischen Abrissverfügung) of 1806 it was one of the few buildings that was destroyed at Otzberg Castle. Today, only the wall foundations remain.

Corporal's house

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The "corporal's house" (Korporalshaus), rebuilt in 1996 is used as a registry by the municipality of Otzberg.

  • Buildings of Otzberg Castle
  • The Otzberg - north side
    The Otzberg - north side
  • Gatehouse to the castle
    Gatehouse to the castle
  • Gatehouse to the exit
    Gatehouse to the exit
  • Well house
    Well house
  • The bergfried
    The bergfried
  • Commandant's house
    Commandant's house
  • Barracks/cabinet room
    Barracks/cabinet room
  • "Korporalshaus"
    "Korporalshaus"
  • "Korporalshaus" and palas
    "Korporalshaus" and palas
  • The palas
    The palas
  • South side of the palas
    South side of the palas

Literature

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  • Wolfram Becher: Name und Ursprung der Burg Otzberg. In: Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des Breuberg-Bundes 26/1, 1979, pp. 3–26.
  • Thomas Biller: Burgen und Schlösser im Odenwald. Ein Führer zu Geschichte und Architektur. Schnell und Steiner, Regensburg, 2005, ISBN 3-7954-1711-2, pp. 189–192.
  • Thomas Steinmetz: Zur Frühgeschichte der Burg Otzberg. In: Der Odenwald. Zeitschrift des Breuberg-Bundes. 51st annual issue (2004), Heft 2, ISSN 0029-8360, pp. 43−57.
  • Axel W. Gleue: Otzberg Burg-Festung-Kaserne. Otzberg, 2003.
  • Rudolf Knappe: Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen: 800 Burgen, Burgruinen und Burgstätten. 3rd edn. Wartberg-Verlag. Gudensberg-Gleichen, 2000. ISBN 3-86134-228-6, pp. 540−542.
  • Schlösser, Burgen, alte Mauern. Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden, 1990, ISBN 3-89214-017-0, pp. 287–289.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otzberg Castle.

References

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  1. ^ Die Gesta Marcuardi, in: Traditiones et Antiquitates Fuldenses, Fulda, 1844
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