The former Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz) in Kaiserslautern was built in around 1152 by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. The only remaining parts of the Imperial Palace are a few carved blocks of red sandstone and remnants of the stone outer wall of the double chapel added by Frederick II.
Following the excavation of the rest of the Imperial Palace and the evaluation of the findings, the city mounted the historic foundations. The Domus (imperial building) originally measured 25 by 19 meters and was 19 meters high. In order to get a real sense of the size of the building, a 3D steel and tamped concrete construction that imitates the size and shape of the Imperial Palace was built.
You can see the remains of the castle wall, which have now been fully uncovered, just next to what was the Imperial Palace. The Stapf fortress was also rebuilt in this location. The fortress was erected at the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War, in around 1619/1620, by fortress builder Adam Stapf on the orders of the widow of Frederick IV, Elector Palatine of the Rhine. Stapf built primary defensive walls with trenches, bastions and curtain walls which protected the medieval castle and city walls.
References:Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.
The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.