Auerbach Castle - Design

Design

The triangular shape of the castle Keep survives today. Between the wall from the North to the South tower and the inner courtyard were the kitchens, living quarters, stables and smithy. The original entrance, protected by a Donjon, was in the wall between the North and former East tower. Between the wall from the East to the South tower and inner courtyard were the grand hall, cellars, and the castle chapel. In the eastern corner of the inner courtyard lies the original well, itself hewn vertically through 62 metres of bedrock.

The castle Keep is surrounded by a ring wall which encloses the Bailey. A further forecourt is enclosed by another ring wall. At the south-side of this ring wall was the entrance to the estate.

On 18 October 1356 a powerful earthquake shook the Rhine rift. The Donjon collapsed, and crashed onto the eastern and southeastern buildings.

From around 1370, large scale rebuilding and expansion of the castle took place. The donjon was demolished, the entrance to the keep relocated and the northern shield wall was closed and raised. The entrance to the castle is now in the southwestern corner, where it is protected by the South-tower and an inner Bailey.

A four metre thick Bastion was built in place of the East tower. This Bastion, the first of its kind in Germany, was designed to protect the castle from cannon bombardment from the North-East. It is possible that the North and South towers were raised at this time.

These additional fortifications, ordered by the Counts of the Katzenelnbogen, gave rise to the name "Feste Urberg" (Urberg Fort) and made Auerbach one of the most secure and modern castles of the world at that time.