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Schloss Ortenberg: Enjoy royalty at the fairy-tale castle
Close to Offenburg, surrounded by vineyards, lies Schloss Ortenberg on a hill. Ortenberg means past and present in living union. The Zähringers built it. They built the castle because they wanted to secure the Kinzigtales. Careful inspection by archaeologists has yielded results which claim that the castle dates back to the Middle Ages.
Location:
The beautiful castle is a landmark in Ortenau and lies above the village of Ortenberg at the end of the Kinzig valley. It falls between Offenburg and Gengenbach. In the village, one can find a narrow signposted road leading to the castle.
Weather:
June, July, and August are ideal months to visit this place. The temperatures are average, neither too cold nor too hot. January is the coldest month, while the warmest is August. July, being the wettest month is avoided by people who do not like rain. People who despise rain and prefer a colder weather might want to visit the place in February, it being the driest month. If you want to do a most of the traveling by foot, July again is a month one must avoid.
History:
The castle was constructed by Zähringer in the 11-12th century, during the Swabian domination. The castle experienced its first extension in the 15th century when defensive towers with guns were added to it. The first destruction came in 1678 during Franco-Dutch war was experienced. Louis XIV let Marshal François de Créquy destroy the castle. While reconstruction followed in the coming years, the castle was destroyed once again in 1697 after which the bailiff moved its headquarters permanently to Offenburg. The present castle was then built from 1838 to 1843 by Baron Gabriel Leonhard von Berckholtz (1781-1863) of Livonia. It has been constructed in the English style of the medieval ruins by Friedrich Eisenlohr. The construction management was transferred by him to his student Georg Jakob Schneider.
While the castle has been used as a Student Hostel since 1942, more reconstruction happened in the coming years to conserve the buildings. The Painter Tower was first restored in the years 1984-1985 and restoration of the Mold and Jacob Sturm followed in the years 1986-1988.
Heinrich and Eva Orttenburger renovated the castle. They were committed to opening it to the public and spent a lot of money, showing significant financial commitment along with unbound enthusiasm to make it happen. On 14 July 2007, Eva Orttenburger passed away at the castle itself. A little while before his 91st birthday, Heinrich Orttenburger passed away on 16 April 2011. His funeral was held in the chapel of the Ortenburg Castle. With his death, the possession of the Orttenburger family that lasted for over 40 years, ended.
The castle:
The fairytale castle has a lot going for it with one of the best things pulling people towards it being the chance of experiencing exceptional wines from the best sites in Germany. Some of the wines from the vineyards around the castle are sought after by people from across the world and have won numerous awards and accolades. If a wine-lover visits Germany, the best time to go is definitely the wine festival – Gutsfest which is mostly held in the month of July.
For architecture lovers, the castle is an absolute delight. After being destroyed, the castle was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style. It was also armed with a lookout tower. The wood-panelled dining hall, the staircase that sweeps up to the dorms give a splendid view of the Kinzig Valley and palatial interiors; all add to the list of reasons which make visiting this tower a must visit place. A powerful torbau is a central attraction with a pointed arch built above a wide-sweeping arched frieze – capturing the essence of Romanticism. An inner courtyard is splayed with Renaissance-style frescos which one can find in the arcades in the southern part of the castle. The ceilings of the arcades have beautiful paintings drawn across them. The Romantic-style of the 19th century shows explicitly in the village surrounding the castle. There are beautiful timber-framed houses on the streets which are waiting to be walked through.
If mythology and ghost stories interest you, there is something to tickle your taste buds too. Guided ghost hunts are also held at the castle which also includes testing esoteric and modern approaches or techniques of ghost hunting.
For the spiritual souls, the place is perfect with the option of going on the Via Nova or the New Way Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage crosses through tranquil and peaceful landscapes that open the avenues of discovering hope within ourselves. The landscapes on the route are stunning, to say the least. These spots of spirituality endowed with historical significance are breathtaking, leaving the traveler entranced.
The Apple Radl Way teaches you a new style of life. It emphasizes the importance of nature, giving you a chance of absorbing a new cultural tradition, cycling through the countryside and eating good food. This is especially enjoyed in the spring season, when the country exudes wonderful fragrances through its trees.
Talking about views, not only are they stunning through the windows of the castle but the castle in itself is a sight to behold. Looking at the building from below, one shall see an enchanting wonder with a history running through its walls. Beyond the castle, the rolling hills, plush greenery and vast stretches of cycling tracks make one wish for an easier way of life.
Exploring the castle:
The best way to explore in the castle, around the village and close-by areas is by foot. Walking through the place gives you a chance duly to appreciate the culture, the heritage, the buildings, the old and the new constructions, the intricate patterns on the walls of the castle and the lush greenery. There are also pretty exciting excursions that one can go on, which again require a lot of walking about on foot.
Why visit?
A traveler has a lot of names crowding his wish-list. If one place can pacify the historian, the traveler and the lover of all things beautiful in you, why should you not visit it? The castle is called fairy-tale castle because of the majestic interiors, imposing exteriors and warm surroundings it is built in. The place doesn’t look like it belongs to this planet at all. The experience of being at a place that is so detached from all things practical and modern is surreal and a must for any passionate traveler or lover of history. The place for all purposes, teleports you back in time, to the era where buildings were about passion.
With people in and around the castle and the village being very easy to approach, it is rare for a traveler to be facing any hurdles. The questions are answered as best as possible, and most people take pains to help tourists out.
The scenic, picturesque locations are numerous and with the atmosphere being warm and relaxed, this is an ideal place to spend a long vacation at, discovering a new and rich culture that is vibrant and welcoming. The rural area allows one to escape the super fast paced city life and just breathe the good old country life in!
Major Attractions:
- Enchanting views of Kinzig Valley
- Proximity to Offenburg
- Rose garden with barbecue area
- Opportunity of living the lifestyle of Royalty
- Vineyards that produce the most acclaimed wine worldwide
- Beautiful village with lovely houses
- Neo-Gothic architecture
- A Wild Park that encompasses an area of almost 2,50,000 sq. km. Deer, lynx, wild boar, chamois, and yaks are just some of the species of animals that one might come across while exploring the Park.
- A Museum which was the headquarters of the Counts of Ortenburg.
- The largest bird park in Southern Germany called Bird Irgenöd is a paradise for bird lovers, housing more than 150 species of birds like flamingos, emus, storks and parrots. The bird park is also home to zebras, lamas, kangaroos and camels. No dogs are allowed in the park.
- The Maskara Theater
- A Leisure Center that houses almost every activity you can think of – a heated outdoor swimming pool, a wading pool, a mini-golf course, a skating rink, tennis courts, a playground for children, beach volleyball and much It is not just popular with the tourists but the locals as well.The place also fulfills one’s spiritual needs as it falls on the route of the Via Nova pilgrimage, and another one to Altoetting.
- Bike Trail in Wolfach – from Dreiflüssestadt Vilshofen ad Donau to Ortenburg, the path also crosses an old railway line, the Neustift monastery with a spiritual garden, running through a spellbinding hilly landscape.
- Generation Park – people of all age groups, can find some activity or the other to engage in. The park has easy accessibility for old age citizens who use wheelchairs, pushchairs,
What else is around?
- Ortenberger Hof
- Europark
- Gengenbach
- Offenburg
- Pullman City, Eging
- Pottery Museum, Obernzell
- Rannasee, Obernzell
- Veste Oberhaus Museum, Passau
- Casino in Bad Füssing
- Thermal Baths at Bad Griesbach, Bad Füssing, and Bad Birnbach
- Rottaler Spa Triangle that houses the largest Golf Center in Europe
- Plenty of churches and monasteries in Klosterwinkel like the Asam church in Aldersbach
- Convent in Altenmarkt (Osterhofen)
So, Schloss Ortenburg is the perfect place to head out to when you’re on a holiday vacation. Lots to explore and see around, this place will keep you enchanted all throughout. So, go ahead and visit Schloss Ortenburg with family and friends and enjoy your vacation!