Picture	Map
Information
State:	Rheinland-Pfalz
County:	Mayen-Koblenz
Geographic Position:	50°13′ N, 7° 23′ E
Owner:	Verein zur Förderung des Fichte-Gymnasiums Krefeld und des Schullandheims Burg Bischofstein e. V.
Address of Owner:	Lindenstr. 52, 47798 Krefeld
Burg Address:	Schullandheim Burg Bischofstein 56332 Hatzenport
Website:	www.fichte.de Menüpunkt Burg Bischofstein
E-Mail Address:	burg@fichte.de

Burg (Castle) Bischofstein is a castle on the Moselle River in Germany. The castle sits between Moselkern and Hatzenport and across from the borough of Burgen. A characteristic attribute of the castle is the white plaster stripe about halfway up its tower. Bundesland (plural Bundesländer)is the German language name for the federal states of Austria. ... Rhineland-Palatinate (German Rheinland-Pfalz) is one of 16 Bundesländer of Germany. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Mayen-Koblenz is a district (Kreis) in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. ... Krefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... The Moselle (French Moselle, German Mosel, Luxembourgish Musel, Dutch Moezel, from Latin Mosella, little Meuse) is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany, joining the Rhine river at Koblenz. ... // Gypsum plaster Plaster of Paris, or simply plaster, is a type of building material based on calcium sulfate hemihydrate, nominally (CaSOâ‚„)â‚‚*Hâ‚‚O. It is created by heating gypsum to about 150 ℃, 2(CaSOâ‚„ · 2Hâ‚‚O) → (CaSOâ‚„)â‚‚ · Hâ‚‚O + 3 Hâ‚‚O (released as steam). ... The keep of Scarborough Castle. ...

The castle was built before 1273. It was destroyed in 1689 and rebuilt in 1930. It was purchased in 1954 by Fichte Gymnasium in Krefeld, Germany and currently serves as the school's retreat center. Krefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

Geography

Position of Burg Bischofstein in the county of Mayen-Koblenz

Burg Bischofstein lies across from Burgen, Germany about halfway up the side of a steep mountainside. The German public highway B 416 runs below the Burg. This section of the road is also called Moselschieferstrasse. The closest large cities are Cochem, which lies about 25 km up the Moselle, and Koblenz, which lies about 35 km downriver. Mayen-Koblenz is a district (Kreis) in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. ... Panorama of Cochem Cochem is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. ... Moselle is a département in the northeast of France named after the Moselle River. ... Map of the Koblenz region Koblenz (also Coblenz in pre-1926 German spellings; French Coblence) is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) and its monument ( Emperor William I on horseback) are situated. ...

To the north of the castle lies the plateau of Maifeld. The Baybach River, which carves gorges into the Hunsrück region of Rheinland-Pfalz, flows into the Moselle across from Burg Bischofstein. The neighboring areas of Moselkern and Hatzenport are typical wine villages along the Moselle. Moselkern lies at the mouth of the Elzbach river, in the valley of which lies Burg Eltz. The wine makers of Hatzenport make a wine called Burg Bischofstein. Monte Roraima In geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country. ... Maifeld is a Verbandsgemeinde (collective municipality) in the district Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. ... Gorges, the plural of the French word for throat, usually refers to a canyon. ... A typical view of the Hunsrück countryside. ... Rhineland-Palatinate (German Rheinland-Pfalz) is one of 16 Bundesländer of Germany. ... Moselle is a département in the northeast of France named after the Moselle River. ... Timber framed houses along the Elzbach in Monreal For other uses of Elz see Elz. ... Burg Eltz Burg Eltz is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Mosel River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany, which is still owned by a branch of the same family that lived there in the 12th century. ...

History

1273 to 1689

The oldest known photograph of Burg Bischofstein (before 1884)

The history of Burg Bischofstein can be traced back to 1273, when the Archdeacon of Trier Heinrich von Bolanden bequeathed to the Church of Trier the claim to lifelong abode that he and all subsequent holders of office should keep feudal responsibility over the Burg. The deed of donation states that Bolanden bought the castle half-finished and payed for the rest of construction himself. As a reward all of the then accepted feudal duties were fulfilled. An archdeacon is a senior position in some Christian churches, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. ... The city of Trier (Latin: Augusta Treverorum; French: ; Luxembourgish Tréier; Italian: ; Spanish: ) is situated on the western bank of the Moselle River in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ...

After that, the Burg was used as a toll castle. It protected the old Roman trade route of Hunsrück auf das Maifeld from highwaymen. In the middle ages the Burg was sieged multiple times, but never destroyed. In 1688, Louis XIV sent troops to weaken the Palatinate following its refusal to ratify the Truce of Ratisbon. These French troops succeeded in destroying Burg Bischofstein in 1689. The word toll has several meanings. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... A trade route is the sequence of pathways and stopping places used for the commercial transport of cargo. ... Folk image of a mounted highwayman Highwayman was a term used particularly in Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries to describe criminals who robbed people travelling by stagecoach and other modes of transport along public highways. ... Louis XIV King of France and Navarre By Hyacinthe Rigaud (1701) Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638–September 1, 1715) reigned as King of France and King of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death. ... A palatinate is a territory administered by a count palatine, originally the direct representative of the sovereign, but later the hereditary ruler of the territory subject to the crowns overlordship. ...

1880 to Today

Until 1880 the castle lay in ruins. At this time the Burg belonged to the Bienen family from Rheinberg. On 11 April 1930 the heirs sold the castle to a businessman from Darmstadt named Erich Deku, who wanted to rebuild the castle for use as a summer home. It was not reconstructed, but using the preserved walls newly erected. In order to achieve this, builders had to create a pathway for construction vehicles. This partly required rock blasting. Deku furnished the Burg with an extensive art collection. Below the castle, he discovered a polyptych from 1530. Rheinberg is a town and a municipality in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland (federal state) of Hessen in Germany. ... Rock blasting is the controlled use of explosives to excavate rock. ... A polyptych (from the Greek polu- many + ptychē fold) generally refers to a painting (usually panel painting) which is divided into four or more sections, or panels. ...

The reconstruction that stands today was completed by the Neuerburg family from Trier in 1938. Aenny Neuerburg bought the Burg at auction when bankruptcy proceedings against Deku were opened in 1936. The entire art collection was included in the offer. The city of Trier (Latin: Augusta Treverorum; French: ; Luxembourgish Tréier; Italian: ; Spanish: ) is situated on the western bank of the Moselle River in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone. ...

Burg Bischofstein today

From 1941 to 1946 the Burg served as a sanitorium for soldiers and as a hospital and refugee safehouse under the leadership of Aenny Neuerburg. Mrs. Neuerburg's son Raymond then took over the leadership position and with his family operated a hostel for foreigners. After Aenny's death the Neuerburg family put the Burg up for sale. A sanatorium (also sanitorium, sanitarium) is a medical facility for long-term illness, typically cholera or tuberculosis. ... A safe house is a location placed in the neighbourhood where a trusted adult or family or charity organisation has agreed to provide a safe place for battered wives and abused children to go to, when they feel that their life is threatened by domestic abuse. ... Youth hostel in Rome. ...

On 29 June 1954 the Schullandheimverein (association for the construction of a school retreat center) of Fichte Gymnasium in Krefeld bought the Burg for only 80,000 DM (about $360,000 today). They then began to construct the retreat center. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Today, Burg Bischofstein is a designated and protected historical spot; not as an 800 year old castle, but as an example of the architectural style of the 1930s.

Burg Bischofstein as a Retreat Center

View of the dormitories from the top of the tower

Every year, Classes 5-9 and 11 from Fichte Gymnasium travel to Burg Bischofstein. Schools all around Germany also visit the Burg. During vacations the Burg is used predominantly by vacationing groups. Class reunions are also held there. A stay at the castle is a special experience for exchange students from many different countries.

Background

At the beginning of the 1950s the Fichte Gymnasium in Krefeld began searching for its own retreat center. The newly formed „Schullandheim Fichte-Gymnasium e. V.“ (association for the construction of a school retreat center) saw Burg Bischofstein, with its structural condition and spacious layout, as most fitting.

On 29 June 1954 the executor of the late Mrs. Neuerburg's will approved the purchase of Burg Bischofstein. The transfer of ownership took place on 1 July 1954. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The very same year, with great effort, the most basic facilites were purchased and the bedrooms, living rooms and the kitchen were renovated and equipped. The first visitors to the Burg were members of the 12th grade because several of the students had shown good technical skills. They painted, performed small repairs, and ensured that the Burg would be prepared for future visits. Since then, students from Fichte Gymnasium have enjoyed the pleasures of staying at Burg Bischofstein.

Until 1980 the Burg was only open to students from Fichte Gymnasium. At the beginning of the 1980s, for financial reasons, the Burg was opened to other schools in Krefeld and then to other groups and schools. Today students from virtually all regions in Germany visit Burg Bischofstein.

In the summer of 2004, the Burg celebrated its 50th year as a retreat center: 50 Jahre Schullandheim Burg Bischofstein.

Use

Today the Burg has a 12-bed dormitory and other dormitories, 2 rooms for teachers, a dining/meeting hall, a rec room with foosball and ping-pong tables, a kitchen, and storage rooms. The caretaker's residence is under the rec room. A typical American college dorm room Dormitory typically refers to sleeping quarters or buildings primarily housing sleeping quarters for large numbers of people, often college students. ... A recreation room (also known as a rec room) is a room used for a variety of purposes, such as parties, games and other everyday or casual use. ... Foosball (from the German Fußball = soccer - In German itself its called Kicker or Tischfußball) is also known as table soccer, table football, babyfoot, jitz, or gettone. ... Regional competition level table tennis, showing table, net, and player getting ready to return the ball with a winning backhand topspin stroke. ... The word caretaker may have numerous meanings, but the most common two are (1) a person or persons who cares for a property in exchange for rent-free living accommodations and (2) temporary government which takes control until a stable rule can be restored. ...

Tower

The tower with its white ring

View of the Moselle and Hatzenport from the top of the tower

The 20 meter tall tower is easily recognizable by the white ring about halfway up its height. The ring is a remaining piece of plaster. In the middle ages, it was common for castle towers to be completely plastered. Hundreds of years of weathering washed most of the plaster away. At the height of the ring was originally a wooden parapet. This was destroyed by fire in 1689, and the plaster burned itself into the wall of the tower. A parapet consists of a dwarf wall along the edge of a roof, or round a lead flat, terrace walk, etc. ...

Renovation

In 1997 the tower underwent a renovation. The battlements were newly reinforced and the tower platform was completely reconstructed. Wooden steps were constructed inside the tower in the architectural style of the middle ages. Today, visitors to Burg Bischofstein can climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the beautiful view of the Moselle Valley. The city flag of Krefeld flies at the top of the tower. A battlement, in defensive architecture such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i. ... Krefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

Stories about the Tower

Through history, many tales have been spun about the tower and its white ring.

One explains that bands of robbers regularly attacked tradesmen on the trade route that the Burg protected. To put and end to this, Bischof von Trier put the ring around the tower, and every captured robber was hanged from it to demonstrate to others what became of those of his kind.

Another story claims that there was a huge flood and the ring marks the high water mark. Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Another version asserts that Bischof von Trier once freed the tower's Lord from the flood. To thank him for this, the Lord fixed the ring to the tower as a symbol of the "Bischof's ring" and at the flood level of the Moselle.

Literature

• Christa Becker, Winfried Schorre: Burg Bischofstein an der Mosel. Görres-Druckerei GmbH und Verlag, Koblenz 2002, ISBN 3-935690-02-9

External links

Pictures:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Burg Bischofstein

• Site with many pictures of Burg Bischofstein

Information: Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

• Entry about the Burg in the Scholarly Castle Databank of the European Institute of Castles (In German) Click on "Deutschland" and search for "Bischofstein"
• Information about the Burg
• Site des Fichte-Gymnasiums (link to Burg Bischofstein)
• Ehemaligenverein des Fichte-Gymnasiums Krefeld e. V.

Coordinates: 50°13′N 7°23′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...