Hardenstein Castle

Herbede, Germany

Hardenstein Castle remains lie near the Ruhr River, surrounded by mountains, and are not easily accessible. Nearby ruins show that the castle was once part of an important mining centre, probably dating to the Middle Ages; the earliest records, from the 16th century, support this. The castle is featured in the legend of the Nibelungs.

The castle's association with mining led to a legend that King Goldemar, a dwarf or kobold, dwelled there. One version of the story says that King Goldemar lived with Neveling von Hardenberg at the castle. For three years, he brought the inhabitants good luck until a curious man tried to see his footprints by casting tares and ashes about. Goldemar cut the man up, roasted his body, boiled his head and legs, and ate him. He was gone the next day, vowing through a note that the house would be as unlucky as it had been lucky while he lived there.

References:

Comments

Your name


Address

Hardensteiner Weg 23, Herbede, Germany
See all sites in Herbede

Details

Founded: 1354
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Blankenstein Castle (5,1 km)


Cologne Cathedral (58,4 km)
Romano-Germanic Museum (58,5 km)
St. Andrew's Church (58,5 km)
Great St. Martin Church (58,6 km)
Broich Castle (29,8 km)
Wallraf-Richartz-Museum (58,8 km)
St. Maria Lyskirchen (59,2 km)
Cologne City Museum (58,7 km)
Basilica of the Holy Apostles (59,3 km)

User Reviews

Marty Schall (2 years ago)
Ganzokay, wenn man mal mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs ist. Lohnt dich als Ziel oder Zwischenstopp, man kann hier gut eine Pause einlegen.
BiggiM (2 years ago)
Toller Ort zum spazieren gehen und diesen Ort zum schauen und verweilen nutzen. Schöne alte Ruine mit einer interessanten Geschichte. Etwas klein, aber trotzdem schön
gabi gaboja (2 years ago)
Amazing castle
Jesse Ojanen (3 years ago)
Beautiful and quiet place
vstl moox (3 years ago)
History....and beautiful region.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright Kurayba

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.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.