Schloss Mespelbrunn: The Castle in the Woods
Spessart is a low range wooden mountain, situated in the region of Bavaria, Germany. Spessart spreads towards the east and around Schöllkrippen and Mespelbrunn. Mespelbrunn of the Aschaffenburg district of Lower Franconia is a community in Bavaria, Germany. Mespelbrunn is the site where the prominent Mespelbrunn Castle is situated along with Wallfahrtskirche Hessenthal. This church has been a sacred Christian pilgrimage for over seven hundred years now.
Schloss Mespelbrunn or the Mespelbrunn castle located in the Bavarian Spessart is one of the most quixotic castles in Germany. The castle is wholly surrounded by a wet trench. You can effortlessly take a day trip from the city of Frankfurt. The place can be simply accessed by a leisurely car ride.
The castle also goes by the name of Wasserschloss which means a castle fenced by water. What makes the castle stand out as paralleled to other monuments in the region, is the fact that the castle remains unscathed by the devastation caused due to the Second World War. One of the explanations for this might be its concealed location within a deep valley.
The castle is one of the most significant tourist destination, especially during the warmer months. The castle is presently, privately owned by the family, Ingelheim. The family itself lives within the mansion on the southern side. However, the rest of the castle is open for tourists. Make sure to visit the restaurant near the car parking area. Here you can sit and enjoy one of the best views of the Mespelbrunn Castle.
History
Before the beautiful castle, as it stands today, the Mespelbrunn Castle was a modest house. The then owner of the house was Hamann Echter. He was given the designation of ‘Vizedom of Aschaffenburg’ which is a name given to the archetypal of the then ruling prince, Johann von Nassau, the Archbishop of Mainz.
It was the first of May in the year 1412 that Johann gave this portion of land to Echter. Echter held the position of the knight and deservedly was given the land for his services rendered against the Czechs. However, he erected here a house but with no barricades for the protection of the house. Hamann Echter’s family originates from the Odenwald region. His name most probably means ‘the initiator of ostracism’.
The geographical location of the land gifted to the knight holds key significance. Located in the Spessart, in the fifteenth century, this part of the land was mostly untapped and was under the dense cover of the virgin forest. The most important obstacle which came forth in the forest was that the area was a breeding ground for bandits who would frequently plunder the nearby regions. Considering this problem, Hamann Echter who was the first owner’s son, began the task of rebuilding the house that his father had once constructed. Hamann though converted this house into a fortified castle with towers and heightened walls. He also built a moat around the castle with the help of a nearby lake.
The castle underwent major changes with the passing of time and as the generations of family continued to live in the castle. Bergfried, which is the round tower, was the only remaining part of the fifteenth-century architecture. The most striking change that came across was the alteration in the defense of the castle. The continuing generations of the family altered the defense into a typical manor house. The architecture was now influenced by the Renaissance style. If one looks at the castle today, the vital appearance of the place is due to the changes brought on by the famous Peter Echter between 1551 and 1556 with his wife, Gertrud of Adelsheim.
During the Thirty Years of War, the Castle was one of the few structures in the area that left untouched. One of the reasons was its remote location, hidden within the virgin forest. It was in 1665 that the last of the Echters died. Maria Ottilia, the Echterin of Mespelbrunn, in 1576, got married to Ingelheimian Phillip Ludwig. Phillip was the member of a family of barons. He was later made the Count of Ingelheim. It was feared that the family name of Echter would be lost. But by the permission given by the emperor, the name of the family was preserved. This was done as they were allowed to merge their name with the counts of Ingelheim. They were now known as Echtor von und zu Mespelbrunn.
The most famous of the people associated with the castle is Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. He was born in 1545 and died in 1617. He was the bishop of Würzburg in 1573. He was single-handedly accountable for the Counter-Reformation that occurred in this area. One of the most important actions taken by him was the construction of multiple churches fashioned in Catholic style of architecture. This gothic nature of these churches stood in stark contrast with that of the Lutheran-Protestant neighbors. The most striking feature of these churches were the steep black slate roofs as compared to the Renaissance churches.
However, in the year of 1875, the chapel was built as the burial ground for the Ingelheim family. This place overlooks the Eslava valley.
Description of the Castle
The central building of the castle has an almost square shaped base. This lies on the eastern side of the lake and it here that the main building of the Mespelbrunn castle stands today. The court is surrounded by two storied houses on the northern, southern and western sides. Two towers of equal heights were later added on the southwestern and northeastern sides. These towers are embellished with stepped gables on the western side. The main entrance to the Mespelbrunn Castle lies on the southern building towards the left side. The court of the castle is limited by framed transits which open to the water, with the central tower in the center towards the western side. This region of the place surmounts the entire castle.
The Schloss Mespelbrunn is still the property of the Counts of Ingelheim. They reside on the southern wing of the castle. During the 1930’s due to economic pressure, the family had to open the castle to the public. They vacated most of the main rooms and live only in the southern part.
Since the owners of the castle still reside within the castle, only the northern wing of the Mespelbrunn Castle is open to tourists. However, one has to compulsorily hire guides to visit this castle. This tour includes the visit to the chapel and many reception rooms.
Look closely at the walls and you will notice rifles and trophies nailed. Although this might give a sense of eeriness, the castle has offered a more insight to the life within a castle as compared to many other castles in the world.
The eastern and northern wings of the Schloss Mespelbrunn are supported by giant stone pillars. The pillars in the northern part of the castle are decorated in the typical Renaissance styled architecture. These pillars contain emblems depicting masks and angels. Look closely, and you will notice on one of the pillar and engravings that read ‘1564’. This pillar also contains the coat of Echter and his wife’s arms. The castle windows in particular still contain traces of the family’s kinship, with the depiction of Countess Antoinette Ingelheim.
Tourist Information
Schloss Mespelbrunn or the Mespelbrunn Castle is open to tourists daily from the day of Easter to October. The timings are from 9 am to 5pm. Admission to the castle will include a mere sum of €3.50. This fare includes the compulsory guide for the tour.
How to reach
The castle of Mespelbrunn can be best reached by private transportation. It is about 5 miles off the Autobahn A3 or the exit 63.
It is an hour away from the city of Frankfurt am Main or about 46 miles. It is about 20 miles away from Aschaffenburg or about twenty minutes.
From the parking lot of the Castle, it is only at a distance of a ten-minute hike.
Make sure to visit one of the several restaurants near the parking lot, from where you can have a good look of the castle.