Altenburg (Bamberg)

(Translated from the German version: [1])

The Altenburg in Bamberg was first mentioned in 1109; it served next as a Fliehburg, and then from 1305 to 1553, it was the residence of the Bamberger Fürstbischofs (the sovereign bishops of Bamberg).

History

In the Second Mark Count War (Zweiter Markgrafenkrieg) of 1553, the army of the Mark Count Albrecht Alcibiades von Brandenburg-Kulmbach burnt the castle down to its foundations.

In 1801, the Bamberger physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored it from the ground up. E. T. A. Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers.

In 1818, a society for the maintenance of the Altenburg received the castle. Today one can find in the castle a restaurant, that also manages the so-called Knights Hall. This is mostly used for festive occasions such as weddings or founding celebrations.

From 1952 to 1982, a brown bear named Poldi lived in a "Zwinger" (a small enclosure) in the castle. The Zwinger is still available, but today only houses a stuffed bear.

Quotation from a Travel Guide from the Early 20th Century

In his travel guide of Bamberg and its environment around the year 1912, the author Dietrich Amende describes the castle:

Die Altenburg ist das Wahrzeichen Bambergs. Weithin grüßt ihr schlanker Turm in das Fränkische Land. Sie steht auf einem Bergkegel am Rande der Steigerwaldhöhe. Zusammen mit dem gegenüber auf der Jurahöhe sichtbaren Schloß Giech beherrschte sie in vergangenen Jahrhunderten die Mainebene.

Quoted from Dr. Dietrich Amende's book: Bamberg und das Frankenland. Bamberg o. J. (around 1912).

Web Links

http://www.altenburgverein.de/

http://www.roadstoruins.com/altenburg.htm