Auerbach Castle - Take a Trip Back to the Middle Ages

A trip to Auerbach Castle will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back into the Middle Ages, especially if you visit during one of the many medieval festivals, knight’s tournaments or themed dinner shows which are a common occurrence throughout much of the year.  A visit to the castle, voted the most popular building in Hessen in 2009, is free and open to the public and makes for an exciting day out for the whole family.

Castle History

The Lorsch Codex

In 773, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, donated territory, which included the land where Auerbach village and the castle now lie, to Lorsch Abbey, and it is from around 784 that we find the first mention of the town of Auerbach in the Lorsch Codex (manuscript record from Lorsch Abbey) where it is called “Urbach.”  After this, no mention can be found of Auerbach until 1135 when the marriage of Hildegard von Hennenberg brought the town, along with other territory along the Bergstrasse, into the possession of Count Heinrich II von Katzenelnbogen. The Katzenelnbogen family were a noble family whose origins were in the Rhine Gorge at Rheinfels Castle at St. Goar. From there, the Katzenelnbogens enlarged their territory to include areas south of the Main River, along the Bergstrasse and in the northern Odenwald.  

A Plaque at the Castle Shows
the Katzenelnbogen Coat of Arms

It can be assumed from the historical records that Auerbach Castle was built in 1222 by Diether IV von Katzenelnbogen.  The castle, built atop the strategically-important Urberg Mountain,  would not only have provided a means of defence against invasion, but would have also secured the Katzenelnbogen family’s position as toll collectors along their section of the important north-south trade route, which included the Bergstrasse.  In the late 13th century, the castle was enlarged and reinforced, and it remained in the possession of the Katzenelnbogens until 1479 when it, along with all of the family’s territory in the area, passed to the Landgraviate of Hessen.

By the 17th century, many of the castle’s defensive features, as well as its strategic importance, had become largely obsolete and could offer little protection during the subsequent wars which plagued the Bergstrasse.  Of the Thirty Years War (1618 - 1648), Count Mansfeld, a commander and mercenary during the war said,

“On the house Auerberg (Auerbach castle) nothing more, but everything was

burnt and taken away in 1634 by the soldiers.”

In 1674, during the Franco-Dutch War, the castle was again set on fire, this time by an army under the command of French Marshal Turenne. Unfortunately, residents from the area had fled to the castle seeking protection, and they were killed in the fire.

As a result of the wars in the 17th century, the castle was left to deteriorate, and it wasn’t until the mid 19th century that the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, the then owners, decided to secure the remains. Over the years, various reconstructions and additions have been made to the castle and its compound, and today, Auerbach Castle is a much-loved attraction on the Bergstrasse.  

Site Plan

Layout of Castle
Today, access to the castle is by way of a bridge that crosses over a 10-meter deep trench and a paved path that takes you along the wall of the outer bailey.  This wall was built around 1400 to not only provide additional protection to the castle, but also to provide space for necessary outbuildings and allow for tournament games.  These outbuildings were in the place where you now see a restaurant and other guest facilities.  The outer wall runs around the castle and is strengthened by two multi-storey towers. From the outer courtyard, a staircase leads up to the gate to the inner courtyard, which was protected by a murder hole and arrow slits.  This courtyard runs around the inner bailey and is integrated into the bulwark on the east side of the defensive walls.

Entrance to the Inner Bailey

Upon entering the inner bailey, you’ll notice that much of the original construction, which filled the entire width of the western wall is no longer present.  The battlements you see overhead, as well as the window openings, were installed in the restoration work of the 19th century. The original castle, like that from the 14th century, had a triangular layout. The inner bailey was surrounded by a 10 metre high ring wall that was strengthened on all three corners by a round tower.  The complex contained a chapel, kitchen, palas, an additional residential building, stables and smithy which lay along the wall between the north and south tower. In the curtain wall, between the north and east tower lay the former entrance, which was sheltered by a round Bergfried.

In 1356, a large earthquake shook the Bergstrasse and Rhine Plain, causing the collapse of the Bergfried.  The castle was reconstructed in the second half of the 14th century, possibly due in part to the earthquake.  The reconstruction was based on strategic considerations, with the increasing use of firearms requiring altered defence measures. Lightweight defensive towers could not withstand an onslaught by cannon balls, therefore, the eastern side of the defensive wall was converted into a polygonal bastion with 5 meter thick outer walls. The tower was replaced by a platform with battlements on which cannons could be installed. The Bergfried had become superfluous and was not rebuilt, the two round towers on the southwest and on the northwest flank taking over the function of watch posts and signalling platforms.  The entrance was moved to the south, protected by the south tower (which contained a dungeon) and an inner courtyard.

Be sure to take a moment to look at the pine tree growing out of curtain wall.  The tree is over 300 years old, though it is only about seven meters high. It ekes out a living by taking in moisture from the air, its growth stunted by lack of water and nutrients.




Address:  Ausserhalb 2, 64625 Bensheim, +49 (0) 6251 72923, Castle Website

Getting There:  Follow hiking trail A1 See Hiking Map. There is no public transportation.  Private vehicles are necessary.  Parking is available at the foot of the castle. 

Opening Times:  The castle is usually open from 10:00 - 17:00, though they may stay open longer when the weather is nice or close earlier if the weather is bad. Check the website for opening times of the guest facilities.

Entrance Fee: Entrance to the castle complex is free. See the website for event fees.

Sources:

“Schloss Auerbach.” Bensheim-Auerbach, Schloss Auerbach, 2012, www.schloesser-hessen.de/schlossauerbach.html.

“Schloss Auerbach.” DenkXweb - Detailansicht, denkxweb.denkmalpflege-hessen.de/28883/.

Schloß Auerbach, 2017, www.schloss-auerbach.de/.

Tuerk, Rainer. Auerbach - Melibokus. Auf Dem Alemannenweg, BrunnengräBer, 2009, pp. 56–61.