Reipoltskirchen Castle

Reipoltskirchen Castle is one of the best preserved water castles in the Palatinate region. As early as 1198, the first related nobleman, Meffried of Reipoltskirchen, is mentioned, so the castle could have existed at that time. However, the first record of a castle in Reipoltskirchen, castro Ripoltskirchen, does not appear until 1276, when the fortification came into the possession of Theoderich (Dietrich) of Hohenfels.

In 1401, Nicholas Vogt of Hunolstein used the castle, which was part of the dower of his wife, Ida of Erbach, as a base during an armed confrontation with Duke Charles of Lorraine. The duke besieged the castle and captured it. Nicholas, who also called himself Lord of Hunolstein, and his stepson, Eberhard of Hohenfels, Lord of Reipoltskirchen, concluded an expiatory treaty with Duke Charles on 27 March 1401. Temporarily, a quarter of the castle and estate had to be ceded to Lorraine.

At the beginning of the 16th century the castle was probably expanded by the brothers John (ally of Francis of Sickingen) and Wolfgang of Hohenfels-Reipoltskirchen.

In 1797 the property was expropriated as part of the French occupation. In 1808, the castle grounds and its buildings were auctioned off to Karl Baumann, the Maire of Lauterecken, merchant Heinrich Puricelli and farmer Johann Bacher. A short time later, in 1836, the buildings were described as ruinous because they were partly used as quarries.

Most of the heart of castle site was acquired in 1988 by the county of Kusel. The castle underwent extensive renovation in 2005. Today it houses a restaurant, a registry office and an art school. The bergfried is freely accessible and has been turned into a viewing tower.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Schlossstraße 3, Reipoltskirchen, Lauterecken-Wolfstein, Germany

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)