Idstein Castle
{{Short description|Castle in Hesse, Germany}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Idstein Castle
| native_name = {{plainlist|
- Burg Idstein
- Schloss Idstein
}}
| native_name_lang = de
| status =
| image = IdsteinBurgHexenturm.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_size =
| caption = Castle building and Hexenturm
| map_type =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| relief =
| altitude =
| building_type = {{plainlist|
- Hill castle
- Village site
}}
| architectural_style = {{plainlist|
}}
| location = Idstein, Hesse, Germany
| coordinates = {{coord|50.2219|8.2688|region:DE-HE|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date = {{circa|1070}}
| architectural =
}}
Idstein Castle ({{langx|de|Burg Idstein}}), later the Renaissance style Schloss Idstein, is located in Idstein in the county of Rheingau-Taunus, Germany. The hill castle was the residenz of the counts of Nassau-Idstein. The castle's Witches' Tower (Hexenturm) is one of the town's oldest buildings and a substantial local landmark.
History
File:Idstein Schloss 242-028.jpg in 1905]]
File:IdsteinSchloss120802.jpg]]
File:Idstein renesanca parko 1.jpg
The original castle of Idstein was built around 1170{{cite web |url=http://www.idstein.de/English-Homepage/Discover-Idstein/Past-and-Present/E1482.htm|title=Past and Present - Idstein, a Town of Tradition|date=22 November 2012|accessdate=28 October 2014|first=Letzte |last=Änderung|publisher=City of Idstein}} on a rocky ridge in the centre of the Old Town. Within the inner bailey, only the bergfried, the old district courthouse, the 15th century gatehouse and the palas have survived from the castle.
In the early 17th century, during the time of Prince George Augustus Samuel of Nassau-Idstein, a Renaissance style schloss was built on the site of the outer ward. Its Baroque interior was completed around 1714. The architect was Maximilian von Welsch, the stucco work, especially in the so-called Emperor Chamber (Kaisergemach), was carried out by Carlo Maria Pozzi. The ceiling paintings and other paintings were by Valentin David Albrecht and Luca Antonio Colomba.Neuer Glanz für alte Pracht im Kaisergemach in: FAZ dated 3 November 2011, page 52
In 1905 the schloss became a Convalescent Home for Members of the Royal Prussian Army.[http://www.alt-idstein.info/html/schloss.html Schloss] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103060134/http://www.alt-idstein.info/html/schloss.html |date=2019-01-03 }} Bei: alt-idstein.info, retrieved 27 July 2014
The upper bailey was demolished and the bergfried was nicknamed Hexenturm (Witches' Tower) in the 19th century.{{cite web |url=http://www.idstein.de/English-Homepage/Discover-Idstein/City-Walking-Tour/Historical-Buildings/E1432.htm |title=Witches' Tower (1170)|date=21 November 2012|first=Letzte |last=Änderung|publisher=City of Idstein|accessdate=27 October 2014}} There were witch trials in the early modern period in Idstein, but these substantially predate the name of this landmark. It is unlikely that anyone was ever accused or imprisoned in the tower for witchcraft. The nickname became widespread around 1900 with the publication of Die Pfarrfrau von Heftrich by {{Interlanguage link multi|Ottokar Schupp|de}}. The Hexenturm became the landmark of Idstein. At the base of the tower is a plaque in memory of the victims of the witch trials of 1676, listing the names of 31 women and 8 men[http://markcz.com/photos/witch-trial-idstein/ Witch trial victims memorial, Idstein] markcz.com, retrieved 27 October 2014 killed at the end of the rule of John, Count of Nassau-Idstein.
After the First World War, French soldiers were housed in the schloss during the French occupation. In the Second World War, the schloss acted as a military hospital for reserves.
Today the castle houses the Idstein Pestalozzi Gymnasium. Both schloss and bergfried may be visited on request.
A 20-metre-long stone bridge spans the neck ditch between the outer and inner baileys. To its right is a small Renaissance garden. Guided tours are offered with the guides dressed as gardeners of 1702.[http://www.hr-online.de/website/fernsehen/sendungen/index.jsp?rubrik=4282&key=standard_document_52352667 Gartenweiber-Führung Idstein] (in German) Hessischer Rundfunk. Retrieved 27 October 2014
References
{{Reflist}}
Literature
- Rudolf Knappe: Mittelalterliche Burgen in Hessen. 800 Burgen, Burgruinen und Burgstätten. Wartberg, Gudensberg, 2000, {{ISBN|3-86134-228-6}}, pp. 461ff.
- Schlösser, Burgen, alte Mauern. Herausgegeben vom Hessendienst der Staatskanzlei, Wiesbaden, 1990, {{ISBN|3-89214-017-0}}, p. 197
- Der Idsteiner Hexenturm Magistrat der Stadt Idsten (publ.), Rimac Verlag, Idstein, 2008
External links
{{commons category|Burg Idstein|Idstein Castle}}
- [http://burgerbe.wordpress.com/2007/11/01/idstein-im-schatten-des-hexenturms/ Idstein: Witch prosecutions under the protection of the castle]
Category:Renaissance architecture in Germany