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Eggersberg Castle, situated in the lower Altmuehl Valley near the town of Riedenburg, Bavaria
Some background information:
Eggersberg Castle is located on an elevation overviewing the lower Altmuehl Valley near the town of Riedenburg in the northern part of Upper Bavaria. In the 10th century, it was already mentioned in a document, but not much is known from this early period. In the 12th century the castle was inhabited by the Knights of Nussberg, who were vassals of the mighty Lords of Bogen.
After the Lords of Bogen had died out in 1242, all their possessions passed to the Dukes of Bavaria from the rising Wittelsbach dynasty. The Wittelsbach dynasty even adopted the coat of arms of the Lords of Bogen, the escutcheon of white and blue oblique rhombuses. Today, it is still the coat of arms of the Free State of Bavaria. The Wittelsbach dynasty gave Eggersberg Castle to different vassal families as a pawn, among them the Knights of Wolfstein, Lichteneck and Murach as well as the Earls of Pappenheim and Helfenstein.
In 1520, Eggersberg Castle passed into possession of Leonhard of Eck, who was the privy councillor of William IV, Duke of Bavaria. At that time, the castle had already fallen into decay as a result of the so-called Loewler War at the end of the 15th century, where several Bavarian peers had built an alliance to oppose Duke Albert IV.
After Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, had sold the estate to the Jocher family from the town of Dachau, the family commissioned a new mansion just 100 metres south of the ruined castle. The construction of the newly erected castle was finished in 1604. In 1684, Dominikus, Baron of Bassus, bought the estate. He came from a highly respected noble family from the Swiss Canton of Grisons and was a legal scholar in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt. The baronial family of Bassus, which remained in possession of Eggersberg Castle until the end of World War II, primarily used the mansion as their hunting château.
The family members were great patrons of the art and hence, promoted several artists like the composer Johann Simon Mayr and the sculptor Ignaz Guenter. One of the family members, Baron Thomas of Bassus, a great-grandnephew of Dominikus of Bassus, who inherited the estate in 1781, was a leading member of the Bavarian Illuminati, an infamous secret society that was unfoundedly rumoured to be responsible for several key events of its time as well as for aspiring after world dominion.
In 1962, Eggersberg Castle was bought by the lawyer Robert F. E. Weigand. He established not only a museum in the castle, but also a hotel and an on-site restaurant. Today, his daughter Marion Wenzl-Sylvester and her husband Tassilo Wenzl-Sylvester, who derives from a count’s family spreading from Italy to different countries, manage the estate. Unfortunately, hotel, restaurant and museum were still closed when we were there due to the pandemia.
The Altmuehl Valley Nature Park (in German: "Naturpark Altmuehltal"), which Eggersberg Castle belongs to, is a nature park, 2,962 square kilometres in area. The area of the park is almost coextensive with that of the natural region major unit of the Southern Franconian Jura. It lies immediately north of the city of Ingolstadt on the River Danube and is divided into a southern and northern Altmuehl Valley. The nature park was established in 1969 in the town of Pappenheim by a society formed for the purpose. It is the fourth largest nature park in Germany after the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park, the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park and the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
Eggersberg Castle, situated in the lower Altmuehl Valley near the town of Riedenburg, Bavaria
Some background information:
Eggersberg Castle is located on an elevation overviewing the lower Altmuehl Valley near the town of Riedenburg in the northern part of Upper Bavaria. In the 10th century, it was already mentioned in a document, but not much is known from this early period. In the 12th century the castle was inhabited by the Knights of Nussberg, who were vassals of the mighty Lords of Bogen.
After the Lords of Bogen had died out in 1242, all their possessions passed to the Dukes of Bavaria from the rising Wittelsbach dynasty. The Wittelsbach dynasty even adopted the coat of arms of the Lords of Bogen, the escutcheon of white and blue oblique rhombuses. Today, it is still the coat of arms of the Free State of Bavaria. The Wittelsbach dynasty gave Eggersberg Castle to different vassal families as a pawn, among them the Knights of Wolfstein, Lichteneck and Murach as well as the Earls of Pappenheim and Helfenstein.
In 1520, Eggersberg Castle passed into possession of Leonhard of Eck, who was the privy councillor of William IV, Duke of Bavaria. At that time, the castle had already fallen into decay as a result of the so-called Loewler War at the end of the 15th century, where several Bavarian peers had built an alliance to oppose Duke Albert IV.
After Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, had sold the estate to the Jocher family from the town of Dachau, the family commissioned a new mansion just 100 metres south of the ruined castle. The construction of the newly erected castle was finished in 1604. In 1684, Dominikus, Baron of Bassus, bought the estate. He came from a highly respected noble family from the Swiss Canton of Grisons and was a legal scholar in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt. The baronial family of Bassus, which remained in possession of Eggersberg Castle until the end of World War II, primarily used the mansion as their hunting château.
The family members were great patrons of the art and hence, promoted several artists like the composer Johann Simon Mayr and the sculptor Ignaz Guenter. One of the family members, Baron Thomas of Bassus, a great-grandnephew of Dominikus of Bassus, who inherited the estate in 1781, was a leading member of the Bavarian Illuminati, an infamous secret society that was unfoundedly rumoured to be responsible for several key events of its time as well as for aspiring after world dominion.
In 1962, Eggersberg Castle was bought by the lawyer Robert F. E. Weigand. He established not only a museum in the castle, but also a hotel and an on-site restaurant. Today, his daughter Marion Wenzl-Sylvester and her husband Tassilo Wenzl-Sylvester, who derives from a count’s family spreading from Italy to different countries, manage the estate. Unfortunately, hotel, restaurant and museum were still closed when we were there due to the pandemia.
The Altmuehl Valley Nature Park (in German: "Naturpark Altmuehltal"), which Eggersberg Castle belongs to, is a nature park, 2,962 square kilometres in area. The area of the park is almost coextensive with that of the natural region major unit of the Southern Franconian Jura. It lies immediately north of the city of Ingolstadt on the River Danube and is divided into a southern and northern Altmuehl Valley. The nature park was established in 1969 in the town of Pappenheim by a society formed for the purpose. It is the fourth largest nature park in Germany after the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park, the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park and the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
Kipfenberg Castle, located on a steep rock high above the Altmuehl Valley, Kipfenberg, Bavaria, Germany
Some background information:
Kipfenberg Castle is a spur castle that was built in the 12th century. The medieval building is located in the administrative district of Eichstaett in the very north of Upper Bavaria at the so-called Castle Road, about 50 km (31 miles) west of the city of Regensburg and 60 km (37 miles) southeast of the city of Nuremberg. The castle is situated on a steep dolomite rock high above the village of Kipfenberg and the valley of the river Altmuehl.
In the High Middle Ages, the castle was in possession of the family Kropf, a noble family of ministry officials, who had their ancestral seat in Emetzheim, about 20 km to the northwest. The castle was manned by the family’s own knights, who called themselves Lords of Kipfenberg, starting in 1266. In 1277, even the family Kropf began calling themselves Kropf of Kipfenberg.
In 1301, Konrad Kropf of Kipfenberg sold both castle and village at the bottom of the rock to the prince-bishopric of Eichstaett. In the 14th century, the prince-bishops of Eichstaett had to put the castle in pawn several times due to financial difficulties. However, the complex was also fortified and enhanced by the prince-bishops Raban, Seneschal of Wilburgstetten, and Frederick IV, Earl of Oettingen, at the end of the 14th and the beginning of 15th centuries. Even more building conversions were carried out later by the prince-bishops Martin of Schaumberg and Johann Christoph of Westerstetten in the late 16th and the early 17th centuries.
Because the castle was heavily embattled, it came unscathed through the German Peasants’ War (1524 to 1525) and the Thirty Years’ War (1618 to 1648). Nevertheless, it was partly dismantled in the 19th century. In 1869, even the castle’s residential building collapsed. But in 1914, the family Taeschner acquired the grounds and rebuilt the ruined stronghold. Since 1925, Castle Kipfenberg shines in new splendour, although some parts weren’t built true to original, but in the style of German romanticism.
Still from the Romanesque period date the curtain walls and preserved from the Gothic period are the quadratic keep with its height of 30 metres as well as the so-called "witch tower", situated on a rock outcrop. Today, Kipfenberg Castle is privately owned and hence, cannot be visited by the public. However, the outer bailey houses the Roman and Bavarii Museum Castle Kipfenberg.
The Altmuehl Valley Nature Park (in German: "Naturpark Altmuehltal"), which Kipfenberg belongs to, is a nature park, 2,962 square kilometres in area. The area of the park is almost coextensive with that of the natural region major unit of the Southern Franconian Jura. It lies immediately north of the city of Ingolstadt on the River Danube and is divided into a southern and northern Altmuehl Valley. The nature park was established in 1969 in the town of Pappenheim by a society formed for the purpose. It is the fourth largest nature park in Germany after the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park, the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park and the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
Portal and inner courtyard of Hirschberg Castle (in English: "Stag Hill Castle") with the castle’s façade in the background, Beilngries, Bavaria, Germany
Some background information:
Hirschberg Castle is a rather large-sized castle complex situated on a hill above the town of Beilngries in the Valley of the river Altmuehl. It is located in the administrative district of Eichstaett in the very north of Upper Bavaria, about 50 km (31 miles) west of the city of Regensburg and 60 km (37 miles) southeast of the city of Nuremberg.
The castle was built between 1170 and 1200 on the Hirschberg (in English: "Stag Hill") by the Earls of Groegling and Dollnstein. Following its completion the renamed themselves after their new family seat Earls of Hirschberg. At that time the castle already had the same scale as it still has today. Some parts of the old castled have survived to the present day, such as the two massive keeps in the west of the complex and the southern curtain wall. In 1304, the last Earl of Hirschberg bequeathed the castle to the bishop of Eichstaett, on whose land the building complex was once erected. The earl died in 1305 and the new episcopal lords of the castle enlarged and completed the site in the course of the centuries.
At the beginning of the 15th century, prince-bishop Frederick IV of Oettingen continued to build the northern tower up to its current height. His successor Albrecht II of Hohenrechberg relocated the curtain wall’s entry and also located a spacious outer ward. Prince-bishop Wilhelm of Reichenau replaced the old residential building by a three-storey mansion at the end of the 15th century. And at the end of the 16th century, prince-bishop Martin of Schaumberg erected the large norhern wing.
In 1632, the castle burned out largely by lightning. Only the towers, the keeper’s home and the chapel were spared from the fire. The rebuilding began not until 1670 and lasted until 1729. During this time the castle was partly rebuilt and partly modernised. An overall plan was made to build an architectural ensemble in the sense of late baroque palace architecture. This plan was commissioned by then prince-bishop Raymund Anton, Earl of Strasoldo. Responsible for the whole project was the episcopal court architect Moritz Pedetti and the result of his work was the Rococo castle complex that it is still today.
First of all, Pedetti enhanced the southern wing to the west. Then he dismantled the high shield wall between the keeps as well as the keeper’s home. By doing this he achieved a symmetrical inner courtyard being 150 metres in length. Next up on his agenda was a 60 metres long alley in the median axis of the outer ward and its elongation. This alley extended in the so-called "Fürstenstraße" (in English: "Dukes’ Road") that ran ramrod straight through the fields, meadows and adjacent forests. Finally, Pedetti gave the complete outside architecture a homogeneous façade design.
In 1803, Hirschberg Castle passed to Ferdinand III, Archduke of Tuscany, in the course of the Bavarian secularisation. In the following decades, the owners changed quite often. In 1806, it passed to the Bavarian state. In 1817, it passed to the newly founded princedom of Eichstaett. And in 1833, it passed to the Bavarian state again. In 1860, the castle was sold to bishop Georg von Oettl, who bought it for the episcopal seminary of Eichstaett. In 1925, the building complex became a spiritual retreat centre of the bishopric of Eichstaett.
Since 2003, the palace bears the name "Bishopric House Castle Hirschberg" and serves as a centre of education and communal meeting point. Conferences can be hold and mainly spiritual workshops can be booked. However, every Saturday afternoon the interior of Hirschberg Castle can also be visited within the frame of guided tours.
View of the market place of the town of Eichstaett with the red coloured guildhall, Bavaria, Germany
Some background information:
The town of Eichstaett is situated in the valley of the river Altmuehl and in the heart of Altmühl Valley Nature Park. It has about 13,000 residents and is the capital of the administrative district of Eichstaett. The town is located in the very north of Upper Bavaria, about 50 km (31 miles) west of the city of Regensburg and 60 km (37 miles) south of the city of Nuremberg.
In 741, the bishopric of Eichstaett was founded by Saint Willibald on the site of an old Roman station. Saint Willibald was also appointed the first bishop of the newly founded bishopric. In 880, the remains of his sister Saint Walpurga were transferred from the settlement of Heidenheim to Eichstaett and in 1035, a Benedictine nunnery was founded about her grave that is still a renowned pilgrimage site.
In 908, the municipality was given market rights, customs legislation and the right of coinage by Louis IV, King of East Francia, who also goes under the name of Louis the Child. He also granted Eichstaett the right to erect town walls. But it was not until 1042, that Eichstaett was also granted town charter. In the 11th century a cathedral was commenced. Its towers were erected in the 12th century, but since the construction work took a long time, it was not until 1310, that the Romanesque cathedral was completed and consecrated.
In 1205, the Earls of Groegling-Hirschberg received the bailiwick right and Eichstaett became the seat of power of the earldom of Hirschberg. In the Middle Ages, the area around the town was even utilised for vineyard cultivation. But during the so-called Little Ice Age that began in 1650, wine-growing was abandoned and has never again been reintroduced since then. From 1305 to the beginning of the 19th century, the bishops of Eichstaett ruled over both bishopric and the town. Between 1500 and 1806, was a part of the Franconian Circle within the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.
The period between 1582 and 1723 was a time of witch-hunt. In these years 222 women and 17 men were sentenced to death and executed in the bishopric of Eichstaett. During the Thirty Years’ War the town was regarded as a heartland of Catholicism. Hence, it was repeatedly occupied and plundered by the Protestant Swedes. In 1633, the Swedish army pillaged Eichstaett, taking cannons, munitions as well as large amounts of flour and grain with them. In 1634, the town centre was almost completely destroyed. 444 houses and six churches were devastated by the Swedes. Reconstruction began in 1639 and lasted until the end of the 18th century.
However, in the War of the Spanish Succession, Eichstaett was mostly spared. Although French-Bavarian cuirassiers invaded the town in 1703, they were defeated in two battles in 1704, which proved advantageous for Eichstaett and its bishopric. In 1720, the west façade of the cathedral was rebuilt in the Baroque style by the then Eichstaett master builder Gabriel de Gabrieli. It has also been him, who has shaped tot townscape to the present day.
In the course of the secularisation of 1803, Eichstaett became a part of the Electorate of Salzburg. Just two years later, the town was incorporated into the Austrian Empire, but still at the end of the same year it passed to the Kingdom of Bavaria. Between 1817 and 1833, Eichstaett was the capital of the princedom of Eichstaett that was held by the dukes of Leuchtenberg. At the end of the 19th century, the town lost its jurisdiction to the nearby city of Ingolstadt.
In World War II, Eichstaett didn’t suffer any damages and on 26th April 1945, it was occupied by US troops. In 1980, Eichstaett college was made the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt. It is a rather small German university with only seven faculties and approximately 5,500 students, but enjoys a very good reputation. Furthermore, its university has made Eichstaett Germany’s smallest university town.
The Altmuehl Valley Nature Park (in German: "Naturpark Altmuehltal"), in which Eichstaett is located, is a nature park, 2,962 square kilometres in area. The area of the park is almost coextensive with that of the natural region major unit of the Southern Franconian Jura. It lies immediately north of the city of Ingolstadt on the River Danube and is divided into a southern and northern Altmuehl Valley.
The nature park was established in 1969 in the town of Pappenheim by a society formed for the purpose. It is the fourth largest nature park in Germany after the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park, the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park and the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
Main street in the town of Beilngries with its stepped gable houses and the so-called “House of the guest” in the background, Bavaria, Germany
Some background information:
The town of Beilngries is situated in the valley of the river Altmuehl. It has almost 10,000 residents and is located in the administrative district of Eichstaett in the very north of Upper Bavaria, about 50 km (31 miles) west of the city of Regensburg and 60 km (37 miles) southeast of the city of Nuremberg.
In 1007, Beilngries was first mentioned in a document. In 1053, the settlement that already belonged to the bishopric of Eichstaett received market rights and customs legislation on behalf of bishop and later pope Victor II. Around 1300, the church of St Walpurga was completed. Moated town walls were built in the late Middle Ages, which prevented the town from being destroyed in the German Peasants' War.
In the course of the Eichstaett witch trials, which lasted from 1532 to 1723, two alleged witches were sentenced to death and executed in the town in 1623 resp. 1625. In 1633, during the Thirty Years’ War, Beilngries avoided being destroyed by surrendering without a fight to the Protestant Swedish troops of Bernard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, who had offered his services as a commander to Sweden in 1630.
In 1803, after the last prince-bishop of Eichstaett had abdicated in 1802, Beilngries passed on to Archduke Ferdinand III of Salzburg, who received the centrepiece of the prince-bishopric of Eichstaett in order to compensate his loss of Tuscany. But only two years later, Beilngries was garrisoned by Bavarian troops. Under Bavarian administration the town became the seat of an administrative court. Between 1835 and 1846, the Ludwig Canal was built, which linked the Danube river with the Main river. The canal led through Beilngries and brought a trade expansion along, mainly due to timber, cattle and grain trade.
In 1939, the administrative district of Beilngries was founded. In 1950, the Ludwig Canal was closed down, but in 1992, the new Rhine-Main-Danube Canal was completed, which connects the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. It runs past Beilngries and has some relevance to the town’s economic growth. However its basis are medium-sized companies and Beilngries’ official recognition as a climatic health resort in the heart of the Altmuehl Valley Nature Park.
The Altmuehl Valley Nature Park (in German: "Naturpark Altmuehltal") is a nature park, 2,962 square kilometres in area. The area of the park is almost coextensive with that of the natural region major unit of the Southern Franconian Jura. It lies immediately north of the city of Ingolstadt on the River Danube and is divided into a southern and northern Altmuehl Valley.
The nature park was established in 1969 in the town of Pappenheim by a society formed for the purpose. It is the fourth largest nature park in Germany after the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park, the Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park and the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
Pappenheim Castle overlooking the little town of Pappenheim in the Altmuehl Valley, Franconia (Bavaria)
Some background information:
Pappenheim and Pappenheim castle are located in a bend of the Altmuehl river in the southern part of Middle Franconia. First mentioned in 802 the town still keeps its historic medieval character with many old houses, churches as well as chapels, the town gates and also some parts of the walls. Nowadays the town of Pappenheim has just about 4.100 inhabitants.
Pappenheim Castle, which today is considered as one of the most important and largest castles in Bavaria, was first mentioned in 1214, but it’s most likely much older. Researchers believe that in the Early Middle Ages there used to be a smaller castle in the area of the castle’s later outer court yard, which was destroyed in the first half of the 11th century. But up to now there haven’t been any excavations which support this theory.
Presumably today's castle, which is partially destroyed and partially preserved, was founded around 1140 by the imperial ministerialis of Pappenheim. Its oldest parts are located in the area of the main castle and it’s already proven that the castle chapel dates from the stretch of 1171 to 1182.
The first known owner of Pappenheim Castle was Henricus Caput, an important ministerialis of emperor Henry V. The reason for building such a large castle in Pappenheim simply was that the spot was situated in the borderland of Franconia, Bavaria and Swabia and therefore was an area of simmering conflicts.
How large the castle used to be in the High Middle Ages can be seen here:
Through the centuries Pappenheim Castle was sometimes besieged and damaged, but it was also always reconstructed and even enhanced. In the late Middle Ages the Catholic family zu Pappenheim was vested with the title of counts. The most famous member of the family undeniably was Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim, who was born in 1594 and died in 1632. During the Thirty Years War he was a highly respected field marshal of the Holy Roman Emperor, feared by all Protestant enemies.
When being hurriedly recalled by Wallenstein during the battle of Luetzen on 16th November 1632, where Wallenstein was facing the Protestant Swedish Army headed by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, he conducted a furious attack together with his horsemen. But he was hit by a musket ball and received a mortal wound. By the way almost at the same time Gustavus Adolphus was also deadly wounded by a musket ball on another part of the battlefield.
It should be added that Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim’s horsemen were very famous for their bravery and loyalty. That’s why the German poet Friedrich Schiller lets Wallenstein say in his well-known drama “Wallenstein’s death”: “Daran erkenn ich meine Pappenheimer.” (“At it I recognize my Pappenheim soldiers.”) Of course this was meant to be a very positive sentence.
In 1633, just one year after Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim’s death, Pappenheim castle was attacked and conquered by the advancing Swedish army. The damages were great, the northwestern roofed hall was completely destroyed and never rebuilt again. But when the war was over, the castle was again occupied by the family von Pappenheim and their garrison.
In 1703 in the course of the the War of the Spanish Succession the castle was again destroyed and conquered, but this time by French troops. Subsequently it was left and therefore started to go to rack. Not until 1960 actions of preservation were taken by an association of people who took a stand for the castle’s upkeep.
Today the whole castle grounds as well as some rooms are open to the public again, which really makes Pappenheim Castle a very interesting place to visit.
Prunn Castle near Riedenburg, overlooking the Altmuehl Valley, Bavaria
Some background information:
Prunn Castle is situated on a steep limestone rock from the Jurassic Age high above the Altmuehl River.
It was first mentioned in a document in 1037. Its initial owner was the noble knight Wernherus de Prunne. In 1147 the castle was demised to the family von Laaber, who carried out several building activities. The oldest parts, consisting of the 31-metre keep and the great hall, date back to this time and hence are Romanesque.
Over the centuries Prunn Castle changed hands many more times. Among its owners where the Wittelsbach Dukes as well as the knights von und zu Fraunberg, whose rule represented a high point in the cultural history of the castle.
In 1604 the noble family Koeckh zu Mauerstetten, who owned the castle at that time, added a new palatial building, which connected the keep to the great hall. In doing so they used the Romanesque circular wall as an eastward external wall of the new building.
In 1631 further restoration work was executed Renaissance style. Due to the growing impoverishment of the family Koeckh zu Mauerstetten in the course of the Thirty Years War the castle demised to Georg von Truckmiller in 1646. But already in 1672 another change of ownership took place and Prunn Castle was bought by the Jesuits. After the Jesuit Order was dissolved in 1773 the building was relinquished to the Knights of St. John. But when their order was also dissolved in 1822 the Bavarian king took Prunn Castle in possession. He tried to renovate the meanwhile rundown building, but it still became more and more dilapidated.
In 1946 the castle fell to the share of the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, who managed to carry out great renovation works in 1950 and 1951. Since these works were completed Prunn Castle is open to the public and interested visitors are guided through the living space as well as the dungeon and torture chamber.
Some further details:
1) The castle used to have four toilet oriels right above the vegetable garden. So the faeces served as a manure. One of these four toilet oriels still exists. The other three plummeted into the garden over the years – hopefully without being occupied at the same time.
2) The torture chamber is located next to the bed-chamber of the guards. Therefore I’m not sure if the guards always used to have a blissful sleep.
3) There are two staffrooms - one for the women and one for the man. The one for the women was heated by a tiled stove, whilst the one for the man was completely unheated. The reason is that the men usually used to heat their bodies from inside – by huge amounts of alcohol like wine and beer.
4) In the Middle Ages the castle windows weren’t vitrified. During wintertime the inhabitants of the castle stretched buckskin over the windows to keep coldness outside as effectively as possible.
Prunn Castle near Riedenburg, overlooking the Altmuehl Valley, Bavaria
Some background information:
Prunn Castle is situated on a steep limestone rock from the Jurassic Age high above the Altmuehl River.
It was first mentioned in a document in 1037. Its initial owner was the noble knight Wernherus de Prunne. In 1147 the castle was demised to the family von Laaber, who carried out several building activities. The oldest parts, consisting of the 31-metre keep and the great hall, date back to this time and hence are Romanesque.
Over the centuries Prunn Castle changed hands many more times. Among its owners where the Wittelsbach Dukes as well as the knights von und zu Fraunberg, whose rule represented a high point in the cultural history of the castle.
In 1604 the noble family Koeckh zu Mauerstetten, who owned the castle at that time, added a new palatial building, which connected the keep to the great hall. In doing so they used the Romanesque circular wall as an eastward external wall of the new building.
In 1631 further restoration work was executed Renaissance style. Due to the growing impoverishment of the family Koeckh zu Mauerstetten in the course of the Thirty Years War the castle demised to Georg von Truckmiller in 1646. But already in 1672 another change of ownership took place and Prunn Castle was bought by the Jesuits. After the Jesuit Order was dissolved in 1773 the building was relinquished to the Knights of St. John. But when their order was also dissolved in 1822 the Bavarian king took Prunn Castle in possession. He tried to renovate the meanwhile rundown building, but it still became more and more dilapidated.
In 1946 the castle fell to the share of the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, who managed to carry out great renovation works in 1950 and 1951. Since these works were completed Prunn Castle is open to the public and interested visitors are guided through the living space as well as the dungeon and torture chamber.
Some further details:
1) The castle used to have four toilet oriels right above the vegetable garden. So the faeces served as a manure. One of these four toilet oriels still exists. The other three plummeted into the garden over the years – hopefully without being occupied at the same time.
2) The torture chamber is located next to the bed-chamber of the guards. Therefore I’m not sure if the guards always used to have a blissful sleep.
3) There are two staffrooms - one for the women and one for the man. The one for the women was heated by a tiled stove, whilst the one for the man was completely unheated. The reason is that the men usually used to heat their bodies from inside – by huge amounts of alcohol like wine and beer.
4) In the Middle Ages the castle windows weren’t vitrified. During wintertime the inhabitants of the castle stretched buckskin over the windows to keep coldness outside as effectively as possible.
Damaged fortifications of the outer courtyard of Pappenheim Castle, Pappenheim, Franconia (Bavaria)
Some background information:
Pappenheim and Pappenheim castle are located in a bend of the Altmuehl river in the southern part of Middle Franconia. First mentioned in 802 the town still keeps its historic medieval character with many old houses, churches as well as chapels, the town gates and also some parts of the walls. Nowadays the town of Pappenheim has just about 4.100 inhabitants.
Pappenheim Castle, which today is considered as one of the most important and largest castles in Bavaria, was first mentioned in 1214, but it’s most likely much older. Researchers believe that in the Early Middle Ages there used to be a smaller castle in the area of the castle’s later outer court yard, which was destroyed in the first half of the 11th century. But up to now there haven’t been any excavations which support this theory.
Presumably today's castle, which is partially destroyed and partially preserved, was founded around 1140 by the imperial ministerialis of Pappenheim. Its oldest parts are located in the area of the main castle and it’s already proven that the castle chapel dates from the stretch of 1171 to 1182.
The first known owner of Pappenheim Castle was Henricus Caput, an important ministerialis of emperor Henry V. The reason for building such a large castle in Pappenheim simply was that the spot was situated in the borderland of Franconia, Bavaria and Swabia and therefore was an area of simmering conflicts.
How large the castle used to be in the High Middle Ages can be seen here:
Through the centuries Pappenheim Castle was sometimes besieged and damaged, but it was also always reconstructed and even enhanced. In the late Middle Ages the Catholic family zu Pappenheim was vested with the title of counts. The most famous member of the family undeniably was Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim, who was born in 1594 and died in 1632. During the Thirty Years War he was a highly respected field marshal of the Holy Roman Emperor, feared by all Protestant enemies.
When being hurriedly recalled by Wallenstein during the battle of Luetzen on 16th November 1632, where Wallenstein was facing the Protestant Swedish Army headed by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, he conducted a furious attack together with his horsemen. But he was hit by a musket ball and received a mortal wound. By the way almost at the same time Gustavus Adolphus was also deadly wounded by a musket ball on another part of the battlefield.
It should be added that Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim’s horsemen were very famous for their bravery and loyalty. That’s why the German poet Friedrich Schiller lets Wallenstein say in his well-known drama “Wallenstein’s death”: “Daran erkenn ich meine Pappenheimer.” (“At it I recognize my Pappenheim soldiers.”) Of course this was meant to be a very positive sentence.
In 1633, just one year after Gottfried Heinrich Count zu Pappenheim’s death, Pappenheim castle was attacked and conquered by the advancing Swedish army. The damages were great, the northwestern roofed hall was completely destroyed and never rebuilt again. But when the war was over, the castle was again occupied by the family von Pappenheim and their garrison.
In 1703 in the course of the the War of the Spanish Succession the castle was again destroyed and conquered, but this time by French troops. Subsequently it was left and therefore started to go to rack. Not until 1960 actions of preservation were taken by an association of people who took a stand for the castle’s upkeep.
Today the whole castle grounds as well as some rooms are open to the public again, which really makes Pappenheim Castle a very interesting place to visit.
The stations of the cross we saw here led up the hill to a small, but charming chapel devoted to Mother Mary.
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
6. Veronica wipes Jesus' face with her veil
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Am 12. Juni 2019 zeigte sich das Wetter in Kelheim und am Kloster Weltenburg bei wechselhaftem Himmel mit sonnigen Abschnitten und Temperaturen um die 21 Grad Celsius. Leichte Windbewegungen begleiteten den Tag entlang der Donau und in den bewaldeten Höhen.
Kelheim liegt am Zusammenfluss von Donau und Altmühl und war bereits in keltischer und römischer Zeit besiedelt. Die Stadt entwickelte sich im Mittelalter zu einem wichtigen Handelsplatz mit strategischer Bedeutung. Noch heute sind Teile der mittelalterlichen Stadtbefestigung sichtbar, darunter das Donautor und Reste der Stadtmauer. Besonders markant ist die Befreiungshalle auf dem Michelsberg, ein monumentaler Rundbau, der im Auftrag von König Ludwig I. von Bayern erbaut wurde. Der Bau begann 1842, die feierliche Eröffnung fand 1863 statt. Architekt war Leo von Klenze, der klassische Elemente mit nationalromantischen Vorstellungen verband. Die Halle erinnert an die Siege über Napoleon während der Befreiungskriege 1813–1815. Im Inneren stehen 34 Siegesgöttinnen aus weißem Marmor, die sich an den Händen fassen – ein Symbol der Einigkeit der deutschen Stämme. Die Architektur bietet eine Mischung aus Antike und Neugotik mit einer eindrucksvollen Kuppelkonstruktion. Von der Aussichtsplattform bietet sich ein weiter Blick über die Donau, die Altstadt von Kelheim und das Umland. In der Altstadt selbst befinden sich weitere historische Bauwerke wie die spätgotische Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt mit barocker Ausstattung, das Alte Rathaus aus dem 16. Jahrhundert sowie mehrere Bürgerhäuser mit barocken und klassizistischen Fassaden. Kelheim war auch Station der Kelten, was sich in der archäologischen Fundstelle des Oppidums Alkimoennis auf dem Michelsberg zeigt. Diese keltische Großsiedlung aus dem 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. gehört zu den größten prähistorischen Anlagen in Bayern. Auch römische Einflüsse sind durch Funde belegt, da die Region Teil des Limes war. Südlich von Kelheim liegt das Kloster Weltenburg, eines der ältesten Klöster Bayerns. Gegründet im Jahr 617 von iro-schottischen Mönchen, ist es seit dem 8. Jahrhundert ein Zentrum benediktinischen Lebens. Die heutige Klosteranlage stammt überwiegend aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und wurde von den Brüdern Asam barockisiert. Besonders sehenswert ist die Klosterkirche St. Georg mit Stuckarbeiten, Fresken und Altären der Gebrüder Asam. Die Architektur verbindet barocke Pracht mit spiritueller Symbolik. Das Kloster beherbergt zudem eine traditionsreiche Brauerei, die seit dem Jahr 1050 belegt ist. Diese zählt zu den ältesten Klosterbrauereien der Welt. Eine Besonderheit ist der Zugang zum Kloster per Schiff durch den Donaudurchbruch, der bereits seit Jahrhunderten Reisende anzieht.
Der Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg ist ein geologisches und ökologisches Naturdenkmal von nationaler Bedeutung. Die Donau hat sich im Verlauf von Jahrtausenden durch das Juragestein gefräst und eine bis zu 80 Meter tiefe Klamm geschaffen. Die schroffen Kalksteinwände ragen senkrecht aus dem Wasser empor. Der Durchbruch ist Teil des Naturschutzgebiets „Weltenburger Enge“ und steht seit 1840 unter Schutz – eines der ältesten Schutzgebiete Bayerns. Die Felsformationen sind von Verwitterung gezeichnet und bilden Nischen für spezialisierte Pflanzenarten wie Mauerpfeffer, Felsenschafgarbe und verschiedene Moose. In den Felsspalten nisten Uhus, Wanderfalken und Dohlen. Auch Kolkraben und seltene Fledermausarten wie die Mopsfledermaus finden hier Lebensräume. Die Donau selbst weist hier eine besondere Fließdynamik auf, mit Strudeln und Strömungen, die sich um Felsblöcke winden. Im Fluss leben Fischarten wie Huchen, Barbe und Äsche. Der angrenzende Auwald bietet mit Eschen, Ulmen und Erlen Lebensraum für zahlreiche Vogelarten, Amphibien und Insekten. Besonders erwähnenswert ist die hohe Biodiversität in einem kleinen Raum, was das Gebiet für naturkundliche Forschung relevant macht. Wanderwege entlang der Donau führen durch lichte Laubwälder, vorbei an Quellen, Trockentälern und Karstformationen. Der Michelsberg bei Kelheim ist geologisch Teil des Fränkischen Jura und bietet eine vielfältige Flora mit Trockenrasen, Wacholderheiden und Orchideenstandorten. Diese Kalkmagerrasen sind Heimat für seltene Schmetterlingsarten wie den Schwalbenschwanz oder den Bläuling. Auch Reptilien wie die Zauneidechse oder Schlingnattern sind dort anzutreffen. Die Region um Kelheim weist ein gemäßigtes, teils subkontinentales Klima auf, das durch heiße Sommer und kalte, schneearme Winter geprägt ist. Diese klimatischen Bedingungen begünstigen sowohl thermophile Pflanzenarten als auch die Entwicklung vielfältiger Waldgesellschaften. Der Altmühltal-Radweg, der direkt durch Kelheim führt, verbindet mehrere Schutzgebiete und Naturparke miteinander. Die Erhaltung der naturnahen Donauabschnitte ist Teil großräumiger europäischer Schutzprogramme wie Natura 2000. Zusätzlich werden traditionelle Nutzungsformen wie Beweidung und Mahd gezielt gefördert, um die Offenlandschaften zu erhalten. Diese Landschaft bildet ein bedeutendes Rückzugsgebiet für Arten, deren Lebensräume in anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verschwunden sind. Besucher bewegen sich hier durch eine Kulturlandschaft mit hoher ökologischer und geologischer Dichte.
Kelheim und das Kloster Weltenburg zählen zu regelmäßig besuchten Kultur- und Naturräumen Bayerns und sind Teil überregionaler Tourismus- und Pilgerwege.
Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelheim
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloster_Weltenburg
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltenburger_Enge
Kamera und Objektiv:
Sony QX1 und Sony SEL18200
Sony A6500 und Sony SEL18200LE
Sony ILCE-7CR und Sony SEL24240
Bildinformation:
12MP - 3465 x 3465 px - ca. 3 bis 6MB
Bildbearbeitung: Adobe Photoshop Express
#Deutschland #Bayern #Kelheim #Weltenburg #KlosterWeltenburg #Donaudurchbruch #WeltenburgerEnge #Donau #Asamkirche #Befreiungshalle #Barockarchitektur #Naturdenkmal #FränkischerJura #Altmühltal #Naturschutzgebiet #Reisefotografie #Naturfotografie #Fotografie #Reisen #Sehenswürdigkeit #Felslandschaft #Juragestein #Auwald #Kalkmagerrasen #Orchideen #Wanderfalken #Dohlen #Benediktiner #Kulturgeschichte #Felsenlandschaft #AltstadtKelheim
#Germany #Bavaria #Kelheim #Weltenburg #MonasteryWeltenburg #DanubeGorge #WeltenburgerEnge #Danube #AsamChurch #HallofLiberation #BaroqueArchitecture #NaturalMonument #FranconianJura #AltmuehlValley #NatureReserve #TravelPhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography #Travel #Sightseeing #RockFormation #JurassicRock #RiparianForest #LimestoneMeadow #Orchids #PeregrineFalcon #Jackdaws #Benedictine #CulturalHeritage #OldTownKelheim
The castle Rosenburg in the town of Riedenburg is situated right on the Altmuehl. It's famous for it's falconry and this is we were heading to. The landscape is beautiful and thats' apparently what this men was thinking as well...
Am 12. Juni 2019 zeigte sich das Wetter in Kelheim und am Kloster Weltenburg bei wechselhaftem Himmel mit sonnigen Abschnitten und Temperaturen um die 21 Grad Celsius. Leichte Windbewegungen begleiteten den Tag entlang der Donau und in den bewaldeten Höhen.
Kelheim liegt am Zusammenfluss von Donau und Altmühl und war bereits in keltischer und römischer Zeit besiedelt. Die Stadt entwickelte sich im Mittelalter zu einem wichtigen Handelsplatz mit strategischer Bedeutung. Noch heute sind Teile der mittelalterlichen Stadtbefestigung sichtbar, darunter das Donautor und Reste der Stadtmauer. Besonders markant ist die Befreiungshalle auf dem Michelsberg, ein monumentaler Rundbau, der im Auftrag von König Ludwig I. von Bayern erbaut wurde. Der Bau begann 1842, die feierliche Eröffnung fand 1863 statt. Architekt war Leo von Klenze, der klassische Elemente mit nationalromantischen Vorstellungen verband. Die Halle erinnert an die Siege über Napoleon während der Befreiungskriege 1813–1815. Im Inneren stehen 34 Siegesgöttinnen aus weißem Marmor, die sich an den Händen fassen – ein Symbol der Einigkeit der deutschen Stämme. Die Architektur bietet eine Mischung aus Antike und Neugotik mit einer eindrucksvollen Kuppelkonstruktion. Von der Aussichtsplattform bietet sich ein weiter Blick über die Donau, die Altstadt von Kelheim und das Umland. In der Altstadt selbst befinden sich weitere historische Bauwerke wie die spätgotische Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt mit barocker Ausstattung, das Alte Rathaus aus dem 16. Jahrhundert sowie mehrere Bürgerhäuser mit barocken und klassizistischen Fassaden. Kelheim war auch Station der Kelten, was sich in der archäologischen Fundstelle des Oppidums Alkimoennis auf dem Michelsberg zeigt. Diese keltische Großsiedlung aus dem 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. gehört zu den größten prähistorischen Anlagen in Bayern. Auch römische Einflüsse sind durch Funde belegt, da die Region Teil des Limes war. Südlich von Kelheim liegt das Kloster Weltenburg, eines der ältesten Klöster Bayerns. Gegründet im Jahr 617 von iro-schottischen Mönchen, ist es seit dem 8. Jahrhundert ein Zentrum benediktinischen Lebens. Die heutige Klosteranlage stammt überwiegend aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und wurde von den Brüdern Asam barockisiert. Besonders sehenswert ist die Klosterkirche St. Georg mit Stuckarbeiten, Fresken und Altären der Gebrüder Asam. Die Architektur verbindet barocke Pracht mit spiritueller Symbolik. Das Kloster beherbergt zudem eine traditionsreiche Brauerei, die seit dem Jahr 1050 belegt ist. Diese zählt zu den ältesten Klosterbrauereien der Welt. Eine Besonderheit ist der Zugang zum Kloster per Schiff durch den Donaudurchbruch, der bereits seit Jahrhunderten Reisende anzieht.
Der Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg ist ein geologisches und ökologisches Naturdenkmal von nationaler Bedeutung. Die Donau hat sich im Verlauf von Jahrtausenden durch das Juragestein gefräst und eine bis zu 80 Meter tiefe Klamm geschaffen. Die schroffen Kalksteinwände ragen senkrecht aus dem Wasser empor. Der Durchbruch ist Teil des Naturschutzgebiets „Weltenburger Enge“ und steht seit 1840 unter Schutz – eines der ältesten Schutzgebiete Bayerns. Die Felsformationen sind von Verwitterung gezeichnet und bilden Nischen für spezialisierte Pflanzenarten wie Mauerpfeffer, Felsenschafgarbe und verschiedene Moose. In den Felsspalten nisten Uhus, Wanderfalken und Dohlen. Auch Kolkraben und seltene Fledermausarten wie die Mopsfledermaus finden hier Lebensräume. Die Donau selbst weist hier eine besondere Fließdynamik auf, mit Strudeln und Strömungen, die sich um Felsblöcke winden. Im Fluss leben Fischarten wie Huchen, Barbe und Äsche. Der angrenzende Auwald bietet mit Eschen, Ulmen und Erlen Lebensraum für zahlreiche Vogelarten, Amphibien und Insekten. Besonders erwähnenswert ist die hohe Biodiversität in einem kleinen Raum, was das Gebiet für naturkundliche Forschung relevant macht. Wanderwege entlang der Donau führen durch lichte Laubwälder, vorbei an Quellen, Trockentälern und Karstformationen. Der Michelsberg bei Kelheim ist geologisch Teil des Fränkischen Jura und bietet eine vielfältige Flora mit Trockenrasen, Wacholderheiden und Orchideenstandorten. Diese Kalkmagerrasen sind Heimat für seltene Schmetterlingsarten wie den Schwalbenschwanz oder den Bläuling. Auch Reptilien wie die Zauneidechse oder Schlingnattern sind dort anzutreffen. Die Region um Kelheim weist ein gemäßigtes, teils subkontinentales Klima auf, das durch heiße Sommer und kalte, schneearme Winter geprägt ist. Diese klimatischen Bedingungen begünstigen sowohl thermophile Pflanzenarten als auch die Entwicklung vielfältiger Waldgesellschaften. Der Altmühltal-Radweg, der direkt durch Kelheim führt, verbindet mehrere Schutzgebiete und Naturparke miteinander. Die Erhaltung der naturnahen Donauabschnitte ist Teil großräumiger europäischer Schutzprogramme wie Natura 2000. Zusätzlich werden traditionelle Nutzungsformen wie Beweidung und Mahd gezielt gefördert, um die Offenlandschaften zu erhalten. Diese Landschaft bildet ein bedeutendes Rückzugsgebiet für Arten, deren Lebensräume in anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verschwunden sind. Besucher bewegen sich hier durch eine Kulturlandschaft mit hoher ökologischer und geologischer Dichte.
Kelheim und das Kloster Weltenburg zählen zu regelmäßig besuchten Kultur- und Naturräumen Bayerns und sind Teil überregionaler Tourismus- und Pilgerwege.
Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelheim
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloster_Weltenburg
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltenburger_Enge
Kamera und Objektiv:
Sony QX1 und Sony SEL18200
Sony A6500 und Sony SEL18200LE
Sony ILCE-7CR und Sony SEL24240
Bildinformation:
12MP - 3465 x 3465 px - ca. 3 bis 6MB
Bildbearbeitung: Adobe Photoshop Express
#Deutschland #Bayern #Kelheim #Weltenburg #KlosterWeltenburg #Donaudurchbruch #WeltenburgerEnge #Donau #Asamkirche #Befreiungshalle #Barockarchitektur #Naturdenkmal #FränkischerJura #Altmühltal #Naturschutzgebiet #Reisefotografie #Naturfotografie #Fotografie #Reisen #Sehenswürdigkeit #Felslandschaft #Juragestein #Auwald #Kalkmagerrasen #Orchideen #Wanderfalken #Dohlen #Benediktiner #Kulturgeschichte #Felsenlandschaft #AltstadtKelheim
#Germany #Bavaria #Kelheim #Weltenburg #MonasteryWeltenburg #DanubeGorge #WeltenburgerEnge #Danube #AsamChurch #HallofLiberation #BaroqueArchitecture #NaturalMonument #FranconianJura #AltmuehlValley #NatureReserve #TravelPhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography #Travel #Sightseeing #RockFormation #JurassicRock #RiparianForest #LimestoneMeadow #Orchids #PeregrineFalcon #Jackdaws #Benedictine #CulturalHeritage #OldTownKelheim
The stations of the cross refer to the last hours of Christ. The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death, and this has become one of the most popular devotions for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
The first four stations depcited here are:
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus receives the cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets His Mother
This beautiful chapel has been built on an old roman/pagan place of worship devoted to Minerva/Apollo. Several chapels preceeded this building, which was erected in 1711. The stations of the cross lead to this chapel.
Founded around the year 600 A.D. on a picturesque peninsula on the Danube, Weltenburg is the oldest monastery in Bavaria. Its beautiful baroque church and masterpiece of the monastery brothers Asam attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.
The castle was build in the 12th century by a minstrel. Not only did he write music, trying to charm the ladies, but he also held falcons for hunting. In 1978 today's falconery established their operations in this castle, keeping up the medieval tradition.
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
Enjoying the cloister's famous beer and food in their beergarden, typical with wooden tables and lage chestnut trees. It's the oldest monastery brewery of the world (since 1050)!
These stations have been there for a long time and are a little weathered but still very impressive.
11. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Pieta)
12. Jesus is laid in the tomb
Am 12. Juni 2019 zeigte sich das Wetter in Kelheim und am Kloster Weltenburg bei wechselhaftem Himmel mit sonnigen Abschnitten und Temperaturen um die 21 Grad Celsius. Leichte Windbewegungen begleiteten den Tag entlang der Donau und in den bewaldeten Höhen.
Kelheim liegt am Zusammenfluss von Donau und Altmühl und war bereits in keltischer und römischer Zeit besiedelt. Die Stadt entwickelte sich im Mittelalter zu einem wichtigen Handelsplatz mit strategischer Bedeutung. Noch heute sind Teile der mittelalterlichen Stadtbefestigung sichtbar, darunter das Donautor und Reste der Stadtmauer. Besonders markant ist die Befreiungshalle auf dem Michelsberg, ein monumentaler Rundbau, der im Auftrag von König Ludwig I. von Bayern erbaut wurde. Der Bau begann 1842, die feierliche Eröffnung fand 1863 statt. Architekt war Leo von Klenze, der klassische Elemente mit nationalromantischen Vorstellungen verband. Die Halle erinnert an die Siege über Napoleon während der Befreiungskriege 1813–1815. Im Inneren stehen 34 Siegesgöttinnen aus weißem Marmor, die sich an den Händen fassen – ein Symbol der Einigkeit der deutschen Stämme. Die Architektur bietet eine Mischung aus Antike und Neugotik mit einer eindrucksvollen Kuppelkonstruktion. Von der Aussichtsplattform bietet sich ein weiter Blick über die Donau, die Altstadt von Kelheim und das Umland. In der Altstadt selbst befinden sich weitere historische Bauwerke wie die spätgotische Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt mit barocker Ausstattung, das Alte Rathaus aus dem 16. Jahrhundert sowie mehrere Bürgerhäuser mit barocken und klassizistischen Fassaden. Kelheim war auch Station der Kelten, was sich in der archäologischen Fundstelle des Oppidums Alkimoennis auf dem Michelsberg zeigt. Diese keltische Großsiedlung aus dem 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. gehört zu den größten prähistorischen Anlagen in Bayern. Auch römische Einflüsse sind durch Funde belegt, da die Region Teil des Limes war. Südlich von Kelheim liegt das Kloster Weltenburg, eines der ältesten Klöster Bayerns. Gegründet im Jahr 617 von iro-schottischen Mönchen, ist es seit dem 8. Jahrhundert ein Zentrum benediktinischen Lebens. Die heutige Klosteranlage stammt überwiegend aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und wurde von den Brüdern Asam barockisiert. Besonders sehenswert ist die Klosterkirche St. Georg mit Stuckarbeiten, Fresken und Altären der Gebrüder Asam. Die Architektur verbindet barocke Pracht mit spiritueller Symbolik. Das Kloster beherbergt zudem eine traditionsreiche Brauerei, die seit dem Jahr 1050 belegt ist. Diese zählt zu den ältesten Klosterbrauereien der Welt. Eine Besonderheit ist der Zugang zum Kloster per Schiff durch den Donaudurchbruch, der bereits seit Jahrhunderten Reisende anzieht.
Der Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg ist ein geologisches und ökologisches Naturdenkmal von nationaler Bedeutung. Die Donau hat sich im Verlauf von Jahrtausenden durch das Juragestein gefräst und eine bis zu 80 Meter tiefe Klamm geschaffen. Die schroffen Kalksteinwände ragen senkrecht aus dem Wasser empor. Der Durchbruch ist Teil des Naturschutzgebiets „Weltenburger Enge“ und steht seit 1840 unter Schutz – eines der ältesten Schutzgebiete Bayerns. Die Felsformationen sind von Verwitterung gezeichnet und bilden Nischen für spezialisierte Pflanzenarten wie Mauerpfeffer, Felsenschafgarbe und verschiedene Moose. In den Felsspalten nisten Uhus, Wanderfalken und Dohlen. Auch Kolkraben und seltene Fledermausarten wie die Mopsfledermaus finden hier Lebensräume. Die Donau selbst weist hier eine besondere Fließdynamik auf, mit Strudeln und Strömungen, die sich um Felsblöcke winden. Im Fluss leben Fischarten wie Huchen, Barbe und Äsche. Der angrenzende Auwald bietet mit Eschen, Ulmen und Erlen Lebensraum für zahlreiche Vogelarten, Amphibien und Insekten. Besonders erwähnenswert ist die hohe Biodiversität in einem kleinen Raum, was das Gebiet für naturkundliche Forschung relevant macht. Wanderwege entlang der Donau führen durch lichte Laubwälder, vorbei an Quellen, Trockentälern und Karstformationen. Der Michelsberg bei Kelheim ist geologisch Teil des Fränkischen Jura und bietet eine vielfältige Flora mit Trockenrasen, Wacholderheiden und Orchideenstandorten. Diese Kalkmagerrasen sind Heimat für seltene Schmetterlingsarten wie den Schwalbenschwanz oder den Bläuling. Auch Reptilien wie die Zauneidechse oder Schlingnattern sind dort anzutreffen. Die Region um Kelheim weist ein gemäßigtes, teils subkontinentales Klima auf, das durch heiße Sommer und kalte, schneearme Winter geprägt ist. Diese klimatischen Bedingungen begünstigen sowohl thermophile Pflanzenarten als auch die Entwicklung vielfältiger Waldgesellschaften. Der Altmühltal-Radweg, der direkt durch Kelheim führt, verbindet mehrere Schutzgebiete und Naturparke miteinander. Die Erhaltung der naturnahen Donauabschnitte ist Teil großräumiger europäischer Schutzprogramme wie Natura 2000. Zusätzlich werden traditionelle Nutzungsformen wie Beweidung und Mahd gezielt gefördert, um die Offenlandschaften zu erhalten. Diese Landschaft bildet ein bedeutendes Rückzugsgebiet für Arten, deren Lebensräume in anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verschwunden sind. Besucher bewegen sich hier durch eine Kulturlandschaft mit hoher ökologischer und geologischer Dichte.
Kelheim und das Kloster Weltenburg zählen zu regelmäßig besuchten Kultur- und Naturräumen Bayerns und sind Teil überregionaler Tourismus- und Pilgerwege.
Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelheim
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloster_Weltenburg
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltenburger_Enge
Kamera und Objektiv:
Sony QX1 und Sony SEL18200
Sony A6500 und Sony SEL18200LE
Sony ILCE-7CR und Sony SEL24240
Bildinformation:
12MP - 3465 x 3465 px - ca. 3 bis 6MB
Bildbearbeitung: Adobe Photoshop Express
#Deutschland #Bayern #Kelheim #Weltenburg #KlosterWeltenburg #Donaudurchbruch #WeltenburgerEnge #Donau #Asamkirche #Befreiungshalle #Barockarchitektur #Naturdenkmal #FränkischerJura #Altmühltal #Naturschutzgebiet #Reisefotografie #Naturfotografie #Fotografie #Reisen #Sehenswürdigkeit #Felslandschaft #Juragestein #Auwald #Kalkmagerrasen #Orchideen #Wanderfalken #Dohlen #Benediktiner #Kulturgeschichte #Felsenlandschaft #AltstadtKelheim
#Germany #Bavaria #Kelheim #Weltenburg #MonasteryWeltenburg #DanubeGorge #WeltenburgerEnge #Danube #AsamChurch #HallofLiberation #BaroqueArchitecture #NaturalMonument #FranconianJura #AltmuehlValley #NatureReserve #TravelPhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography #Travel #Sightseeing #RockFormation #JurassicRock #RiparianForest #LimestoneMeadow #Orchids #PeregrineFalcon #Jackdaws #Benedictine #CulturalHeritage #OldTownKelheim
Am 12. Juni 2019 zeigte sich das Wetter in Kelheim und am Kloster Weltenburg bei wechselhaftem Himmel mit sonnigen Abschnitten und Temperaturen um die 21 Grad Celsius. Leichte Windbewegungen begleiteten den Tag entlang der Donau und in den bewaldeten Höhen.
Kelheim liegt am Zusammenfluss von Donau und Altmühl und war bereits in keltischer und römischer Zeit besiedelt. Die Stadt entwickelte sich im Mittelalter zu einem wichtigen Handelsplatz mit strategischer Bedeutung. Noch heute sind Teile der mittelalterlichen Stadtbefestigung sichtbar, darunter das Donautor und Reste der Stadtmauer. Besonders markant ist die Befreiungshalle auf dem Michelsberg, ein monumentaler Rundbau, der im Auftrag von König Ludwig I. von Bayern erbaut wurde. Der Bau begann 1842, die feierliche Eröffnung fand 1863 statt. Architekt war Leo von Klenze, der klassische Elemente mit nationalromantischen Vorstellungen verband. Die Halle erinnert an die Siege über Napoleon während der Befreiungskriege 1813–1815. Im Inneren stehen 34 Siegesgöttinnen aus weißem Marmor, die sich an den Händen fassen – ein Symbol der Einigkeit der deutschen Stämme. Die Architektur bietet eine Mischung aus Antike und Neugotik mit einer eindrucksvollen Kuppelkonstruktion. Von der Aussichtsplattform bietet sich ein weiter Blick über die Donau, die Altstadt von Kelheim und das Umland. In der Altstadt selbst befinden sich weitere historische Bauwerke wie die spätgotische Stadtpfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt mit barocker Ausstattung, das Alte Rathaus aus dem 16. Jahrhundert sowie mehrere Bürgerhäuser mit barocken und klassizistischen Fassaden. Kelheim war auch Station der Kelten, was sich in der archäologischen Fundstelle des Oppidums Alkimoennis auf dem Michelsberg zeigt. Diese keltische Großsiedlung aus dem 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. gehört zu den größten prähistorischen Anlagen in Bayern. Auch römische Einflüsse sind durch Funde belegt, da die Region Teil des Limes war. Südlich von Kelheim liegt das Kloster Weltenburg, eines der ältesten Klöster Bayerns. Gegründet im Jahr 617 von iro-schottischen Mönchen, ist es seit dem 8. Jahrhundert ein Zentrum benediktinischen Lebens. Die heutige Klosteranlage stammt überwiegend aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und wurde von den Brüdern Asam barockisiert. Besonders sehenswert ist die Klosterkirche St. Georg mit Stuckarbeiten, Fresken und Altären der Gebrüder Asam. Die Architektur verbindet barocke Pracht mit spiritueller Symbolik. Das Kloster beherbergt zudem eine traditionsreiche Brauerei, die seit dem Jahr 1050 belegt ist. Diese zählt zu den ältesten Klosterbrauereien der Welt. Eine Besonderheit ist der Zugang zum Kloster per Schiff durch den Donaudurchbruch, der bereits seit Jahrhunderten Reisende anzieht.
Der Donaudurchbruch bei Weltenburg ist ein geologisches und ökologisches Naturdenkmal von nationaler Bedeutung. Die Donau hat sich im Verlauf von Jahrtausenden durch das Juragestein gefräst und eine bis zu 80 Meter tiefe Klamm geschaffen. Die schroffen Kalksteinwände ragen senkrecht aus dem Wasser empor. Der Durchbruch ist Teil des Naturschutzgebiets „Weltenburger Enge“ und steht seit 1840 unter Schutz – eines der ältesten Schutzgebiete Bayerns. Die Felsformationen sind von Verwitterung gezeichnet und bilden Nischen für spezialisierte Pflanzenarten wie Mauerpfeffer, Felsenschafgarbe und verschiedene Moose. In den Felsspalten nisten Uhus, Wanderfalken und Dohlen. Auch Kolkraben und seltene Fledermausarten wie die Mopsfledermaus finden hier Lebensräume. Die Donau selbst weist hier eine besondere Fließdynamik auf, mit Strudeln und Strömungen, die sich um Felsblöcke winden. Im Fluss leben Fischarten wie Huchen, Barbe und Äsche. Der angrenzende Auwald bietet mit Eschen, Ulmen und Erlen Lebensraum für zahlreiche Vogelarten, Amphibien und Insekten. Besonders erwähnenswert ist die hohe Biodiversität in einem kleinen Raum, was das Gebiet für naturkundliche Forschung relevant macht. Wanderwege entlang der Donau führen durch lichte Laubwälder, vorbei an Quellen, Trockentälern und Karstformationen. Der Michelsberg bei Kelheim ist geologisch Teil des Fränkischen Jura und bietet eine vielfältige Flora mit Trockenrasen, Wacholderheiden und Orchideenstandorten. Diese Kalkmagerrasen sind Heimat für seltene Schmetterlingsarten wie den Schwalbenschwanz oder den Bläuling. Auch Reptilien wie die Zauneidechse oder Schlingnattern sind dort anzutreffen. Die Region um Kelheim weist ein gemäßigtes, teils subkontinentales Klima auf, das durch heiße Sommer und kalte, schneearme Winter geprägt ist. Diese klimatischen Bedingungen begünstigen sowohl thermophile Pflanzenarten als auch die Entwicklung vielfältiger Waldgesellschaften. Der Altmühltal-Radweg, der direkt durch Kelheim führt, verbindet mehrere Schutzgebiete und Naturparke miteinander. Die Erhaltung der naturnahen Donauabschnitte ist Teil großräumiger europäischer Schutzprogramme wie Natura 2000. Zusätzlich werden traditionelle Nutzungsformen wie Beweidung und Mahd gezielt gefördert, um die Offenlandschaften zu erhalten. Diese Landschaft bildet ein bedeutendes Rückzugsgebiet für Arten, deren Lebensräume in anderen Teilen Mitteleuropas verschwunden sind. Besucher bewegen sich hier durch eine Kulturlandschaft mit hoher ökologischer und geologischer Dichte.
Kelheim und das Kloster Weltenburg zählen zu regelmäßig besuchten Kultur- und Naturräumen Bayerns und sind Teil überregionaler Tourismus- und Pilgerwege.
Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelheim
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kloster_Weltenburg
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltenburger_Enge
Kamera und Objektiv:
Sony QX1 und Sony SEL18200
Sony A6500 und Sony SEL18200LE
Sony ILCE-7CR und Sony SEL24240
Bildinformation:
12MP - 3465 x 3465 px - ca. 3 bis 6MB
Bildbearbeitung: Adobe Photoshop Express
#Deutschland #Bayern #Kelheim #Weltenburg #KlosterWeltenburg #Donaudurchbruch #WeltenburgerEnge #Donau #Asamkirche #Befreiungshalle #Barockarchitektur #Naturdenkmal #FränkischerJura #Altmühltal #Naturschutzgebiet #Reisefotografie #Naturfotografie #Fotografie #Reisen #Sehenswürdigkeit #Felslandschaft #Juragestein #Auwald #Kalkmagerrasen #Orchideen #Wanderfalken #Dohlen #Benediktiner #Kulturgeschichte #Felsenlandschaft #AltstadtKelheim
#Germany #Bavaria #Kelheim #Weltenburg #MonasteryWeltenburg #DanubeGorge #WeltenburgerEnge #Danube #AsamChurch #HallofLiberation #BaroqueArchitecture #NaturalMonument #FranconianJura #AltmuehlValley #NatureReserve #TravelPhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography #Travel #Sightseeing #RockFormation #JurassicRock #RiparianForest #LimestoneMeadow #Orchids #PeregrineFalcon #Jackdaws #Benedictine #CulturalHeritage #OldTownKelheim