Nanstein Castle
Native name
German: Burg Nanstein
Remains of Nanstein Castle
LocationBurgweg 1
66849 Landstuhl, Germany
Coordinates49°24′35.4″N 7°34′24.9″E / 49.409833°N 7.573583°E / 49.409833; 7.573583
Builtc. 1152
Built forFrederick I of Germany
Current useRuin, tourist attraction, festival hall, music venue, open-air theater, restaurant
Architectural style(s)Gothic, renaissance, other
Governing bodyVerbandsgemeinde Landstuhl
OwnerGovernment of Rhineland-Palatinate
WebsiteNanstein Castle
Nanstein Castle is located in Germany
Nanstein Castle
Location of Nanstein Castle in Germany

Nanstein Castle (German: Burg Nanstein) is a ruined medieval castle above the town of Landstuhl in Germany, which has been partially reconstructed. The red sandstone rock castle dates from the 12th century and was once owned by Franz von Sickingen, who was mortally wounded during a siege of the castle in 1523.

History

Franz von Sickingen

Frederick I of Germany had Nanstein Castle built about 1152. The medieval hill (spur) castle, situated above a 49 feet (15 m) high sandstone ledge, was originally part of the Hohenstaufen defenses guarding the imperial lands in the south-western Palatinate.[1]

Imperial Knight and Protestant reformer Franz von Sickingen modernized the castle in the 16th century and turned it into a citadel that was supposed to withstand the artillery of the age. In 1523 (during the so-called "Knights' Revolt"),[1] the castle was besieged by the Archbishop of Trier, Palatine Elector Louis V, and Landgrave of Hesse. Sickingen fell mortally wounded during the siege.[2]

Sickingen's sons received the partially destroyed castle back from Elector Louis V in 1542 (as a feudal tenure), and immediately rebuilt it in a Renaissance style. In 1668, the Elector Charles Louis captured the restored castle and had it partially destroyed.[1] French troops destroyed other parts in 1689. In the following centuries several repairs were made, but it remains a castle ruin.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nanstein Castle, Landstuhl". Kreisverwaltung Kaiserslautern. January 13, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Nanstein Castle". Verbandsgemeinde Landstuhl. Retrieved July 25, 2021.

Further reading

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