Monschau Castle

Monschau, Germany

Monschau Castle is first recorded in 1217 as castrum in Munjoje by Archbishop Engelbert I of Cologne. It was expanded in the middle of the 14th century into a fortress for the counts of Jülich and equipped with mighty ring walls and wall walks. In 1543 troops of Emperor Charles V besieged the site with heavy guns, captured it and plundered it together with the town of Monschau.

In the early 19th century the French administration declared the castle to be state property and sold it to a private buyer who had the roofs removed in 1836 and 1837 in order to avoid building tax. As a result, the castle fell into ruins until, in the early 20th century, the government of the Rhine province secured and repaired it. After the First World War a youth hostel was opened in the west wing. So Monschau Castle survived as a 'youth castle' (Jugendburg).

Within sight of the castle, on the other side of town, is another fortification, the Haller. It is disputed as to whether it was an outpost of the castle, a detached watchtower or the remains of an older castle site.

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Address

Auf dem Schloß 4, Monschau, Germany
See all sites in Monschau

Details

Founded: c. 1217
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Hohenstaufen Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Shikhar Singh (5 months ago)
The castle is nice. But a small one. Monschau city is better for visiting and spending time. And maybe to have brunch.
Jeremy H. (5 months ago)
Will be a beautiful castle with a city overlook once construction is done. It may be done by the end of Autumn. Highly recommend this location for an overnight stop or a weekend stay. Near the Belgium border and Eiffel National Park.
Sheila García (5 months ago)
Definitely in the TOP of bucket list places to visit. There’s just so many viewpoints from where to capture the city (although best one is not from its castle) and some many alleys in which to get lost. Full of restaurants and coffee places, even if it is a popular destination, prices are not crazy. It was not very crowded, but traveling during covid times may help.
Keith Phillips (6 months ago)
Absolutely beautiful place to visit!
Sunkara Maneesha (MANEE SUNKARA) (2 years ago)
If you have a gang and u need a place to hang out ? Then u can choose this town. Its a different town from others and has some individual style as some sort of Belgium's.Hiking gives u satisfaction and can have some snaps over there.
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Historic Site of the week

Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends. One of them narrates the origin of the name of castle derived from that of jester Becko for whom the Duke Stibor had the castle built.

Another legend has it that the lord of the castle had his servant thrown down from the rock because he protected his child from the lords favourite dog. Before his death, the servant pronounced a curse saying that they would meet in a year and days time, and indeed precisely after that time the lord was bitten by a snake and fell down to the same abyss.

The well-conserved ruins of the castle, now the National Cultural Monument, are frequently visited by tourists, above all in July when the castle festival takes place. The former Ambro curia situated below the castle now shelters the exhibition of the local history.

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