Schloss Wernsdorf
Encyclopedia
The Schloss Wernsdorf is a medieval castle
located in the village of Wernsdorf
, in Upper Franconia
, Bavaria
. The castle also has a small park. The oldest parts of the castle can be dated back to the 12th century.
The castle is the home of the Privaten Akademie für Alte Musik, Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte Europas e. V. (the Private Academy for Early Music, Art and Cultural History of Europe), through which the medieval music group Capella Antiqua Bambergensis, under the direction of Wolfgang Spindler, was founded.
. This castle was one of the Eckpunkte des Abendlandes (the “cornerstones of the West”), and was on a trade route that led into the Slavic countries. The structure that stands there today was first documented in 1114. The Bishop of Bamberg
at that time was the lord of the castle.
In 1620, the Bishop Johann Gottfried I. von Aschhausen further developed the castle. It was then used as a hunting lodge, and had next to it a sheep stall, hops
garden and a brewery.
In 1803, the castle chapel and the fortified wall encircling the inner courtyard were demolished. In the following years, the property deteriorated quickly from the inside, due mainly to frequently changing owners, until the royal forester
Andreas Eisfelder restored the castle in 1896. After 1945, the castle served as refugee accommodations.
In 1993, the Capella Antiqua Bambergensis bought the property, which had again fallen into poor condition. The timber framing was almost completely destroyed by dry rot and wood worms. The floors were molded, and in several places the ceilings had collapsed. There was no electricity, no sanitation and no heating. After over 30,000 hours of work, the music group re-opened the castle and the park to the public.
In addition to various other awards, Wolfgang Spindler received the Federal Cross of Merit of 2002.
For the specific work in terms of music and social-aspects, the Bavarian government awarded Capella Antiqua Bambergensis a prize, named the Kulturpreis Bayern der E.ON Bayern AG, in 2006.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
located in the village of Wernsdorf
Wernsdorf (Bavaria)
Wernsdorf is a small village located in Bavaria, Germany. It is in Oberfranken , in the Bamberg district. Wernsdorf is a constituent community of Strullendorf and is located on the state roads 2188 and 2210, adjoining the neighbouring village of Amlingstadt...
, in Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. The castle also has a small park. The oldest parts of the castle can be dated back to the 12th century.
The castle is the home of the Privaten Akademie für Alte Musik, Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte Europas e. V. (the Private Academy for Early Music, Art and Cultural History of Europe), through which the medieval music group Capella Antiqua Bambergensis, under the direction of Wolfgang Spindler, was founded.
History
Schloss Wernsdorf supposedly stands on the remains of a fortified castle that was built in 790 AD by CharlemagneCharlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
. This castle was one of the Eckpunkte des Abendlandes (the “cornerstones of the West”), and was on a trade route that led into the Slavic countries. The structure that stands there today was first documented in 1114. The Bishop of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
at that time was the lord of the castle.
In 1620, the Bishop Johann Gottfried I. von Aschhausen further developed the castle. It was then used as a hunting lodge, and had next to it a sheep stall, hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
garden and a brewery.
In 1803, the castle chapel and the fortified wall encircling the inner courtyard were demolished. In the following years, the property deteriorated quickly from the inside, due mainly to frequently changing owners, until the royal forester
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
Andreas Eisfelder restored the castle in 1896. After 1945, the castle served as refugee accommodations.
In 1993, the Capella Antiqua Bambergensis bought the property, which had again fallen into poor condition. The timber framing was almost completely destroyed by dry rot and wood worms. The floors were molded, and in several places the ceilings had collapsed. There was no electricity, no sanitation and no heating. After over 30,000 hours of work, the music group re-opened the castle and the park to the public.
Modern Use of the Castle
The castle today accommodates the Private Akademie für Alte Musik, Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte Europas e. V. It serves as the venue for the Capella Antiqua Bambergensis and other medieval music groups. In addition, the following activities are offered:- Lessons on the historical musical instruments of our ancestors for children, adolescents, adults, seniors and entire families
- Performance practice courses for ensembles
- Lectures on music history and humanities
- Lectures on art and cultural history
- Courses on historical musical instruments
- Courses for the integration of new media in the music research
Miscellaneous
The Private Akademie was commissioned in 2002 by Bavarian Culture Minister Hans Zehetmair to build a digital documentation center for early music in Bavaria.In addition to various other awards, Wolfgang Spindler received the Federal Cross of Merit of 2002.
For the specific work in terms of music and social-aspects, the Bavarian government awarded Capella Antiqua Bambergensis a prize, named the Kulturpreis Bayern der E.ON Bayern AG, in 2006.