Kastellaun in the Hunsrück
From whatever direction you approach Kastellaun, you will always be impressed
by the ruins of the castle, which can be seen towering over the town from
afar. Topographically, the position of this 13th century castle is optimally
situated on a rocky peak with slopes of up to 30 m steep to the east and west.
The singular defence provided by this location in the Middle Ages, becomes
quite obvious when you stand at the foot of the steep slopes and look up at
the position of the fortress, or when you stand on the rocky plateau and let
your gaze wander over the town. Massive walls, combined with the keep, blocked
off the north side —altogether a typical medieval fortress with palace
(a residential building with a large hall and a heated apartment on the
upper floor), outbuildings and a courtyard. The Earls of
Sponheim
(the "Back County"), who, in order to secure their ownership of the Nahe and
the Mosel Rivers, had realigned the boundaries of a relatively enclosed area
in the middle of Hunsrück with the towns of
Kirchberg,
Gemünden,
Koppenstein and Kastellaun. In the year 1305 Earl Simon II of Sponheim granted
the city charter to the present location in the valley basin, and thus promoted
the economic development of the medieval town, which is centrally located
on the Hunsrück plain and was intersected by important routes. This had such
a positive effect that, a short time later, Emperor Heinrich I also authorized
a weekly market. Starting in the year 1309, the weekly market rapidly consolidated
the economic importance of Kastellaun and the surrounding region. This is
especially clearly recounted in a history of Kastellaun by Daniel Meisner
from the year 1645, which, together with an engraving by Merian, served as
the basis for the restoration of the castle in the 1990s.
In the first century of its existence, the fortress was primarily important
for its military significance. It was important for the Earls of Sponheim
not only to assert their ownership against the expansive politics of the Trier
Electorate and archiepiscopal seat under Archbishop Balduin of Luxemburg (1307-1354),
but also to counterbalance the ambition of the Earl Palatines from the Electoral
Palatinate, who were trying to create a position of power in neighbouring
Simmern. Later the fortress was converted to the administrative seat for Kastellaun,
a comfortable residence for the Prince's family, and a popular meeting place
for shooting parties. In the year 1689, the castle was destroyed by French
troops and never again rebuilt, though some parts were still useable. Today,
the architectural integration of the town with the lower and upper parts of
the castle is still impressive. So it was not surprising when the Rhineland-Palatinate
provincial government re-granted the city charter in 1969. And in the great
tradition of Sponheim markets, there is the annual "Beller Market" here in
July.
Not far from Kastellaun lie the ruins of Castle
Balduinseck,
quite concealed in a deeply cut, narrow valley. This mighty edifice was erected
in the year 1325 by Archbishop Balduin of Trier as a border defence against
the County of Sponheim. Rauschenburg Castle, from the year 1332 a few
kilometres further north near Mermuth above the Ehrbachklamm
Gorge, had a similar function. Contrary to most other castles of the region
Balduinseck was never destroyed by enemy troops, but was left to deteriorate
having been abandoned after losing its function.