Münzenberg Castle

Münzenberg is a ruined castle close to the town of the same name in Germany, dating from the 12th century. It is one of the best preserved castles from the High Middle Ages in Germany.

Architecture

A striking feature of Münzenberg castle is that it has two tall defensive towers, a structure known as a bergfried (Thompson 2008). Such a tower is a typical feature of castles in the region, but there is usually only one, forming the strongest point of the castle. The bergfrieds at Münzenberg are both round, the taller one being 29 meters high.

The two bergfrieds stand at opposite ends of the inner ward (here called the Kernburg). The inner ward is completely surrounded by an outer ward with an outer curtain wall, providing defense in depth.

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  Münzenberg castle from the south

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  Western bergfried and palas (residential building)

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  Eastern bergfried seen from the inner ward

References

• The Rise of the Castle by M. W. Thompson. Cambridge University Press 2008. ISBN 0521088534
• Günther Binding: Burg Münzenberg, eine staufische Burganlage, Bonn 1963

External links

• Page maintained by the town of Münzenberg (in German)

Coordinates: 50°27′06″N 8°46′33″E / 50.45167°N 8.77583°E / 50.45167; 8.77583