The dead man from Breuberg Castle

My rating: *****

It is Pearl who forces me to visit the castle. When she says: "You look at the whole world, but know almost nothing about your surroundings," she is right.

So much tartar had to lead to death. I think he's staring at me.

Opening hours:

Wednesday to Sunday 11.00 am - 6 pm

Adresse:

Burgstraße

64747 Breuberg

Telefon: 06163-70916

Breuberg Castle stands majestically on the castle hill in the Odenwald in southern Hesse, near the town of Breuberg. It boasts very well-preserved buildings, a small castle museum and an extremely dedicated guide who gives lively and impressive tours. If you like, you can stay in the youth hostel.

Breuberg is located southeast of Frankfurt am Main in the beautiful, idyllic Odenwald. The name Odenwald comes from the word Ode, which means legend. The Odenwald is therefore a forest of legends (Nibelungen saga).

Today it is a holiday area and invites you to go hiking, climbing and cycling. Castles, historic old towns and the Limes from Roman times tell of an eventful past.

We are lucky. It is a sunny summer day in 2024, we park our vehicle at the bottom of the mountain and walk for about 20 minutes through the picturesque forest. Like the knights of old with their heavy armor, high on horseback, we dare the entertaining climb. OK, that sounds more strenuous than it actually is, because the forest paths are comfortable.

We repeatedly take the opportunity to pause and take in the tranquil atmosphere. The number of visitors on this day is (fortunately) still manageable.

Tipp: From the lower car park, you can take a leisurely walk through the picturesque forest. It is about 800 m to the castle. Just stay on the path numbered 1.

Hikers and mountain bikers also get their money’s worth here.

Only at the castle does it get a little steeper. Yes, and then the castle lies at our feet, 300 metres above sea level. Or we at its feet. It looks unspectacular at first. But the castle is spectacularly well preserved.

There was no water in the castle moat; Livestock was kept here.

Families with children will also get their money's worth. A slide invites you to let off steam before the cultural program continues. "Amadeus-Rüdiger, behave yourself!"

A touch of Robin Hood

Just don't panic.

Pearl and I walk through the first archway with its heavy, thick walls. Breuberg Castle was built in the Middle Ages in the 12th century on behalf of the Imperial Abbey of Fulda and changed owners frequently. It was originally intended to protect the church's property and the Höchst monastery. The building material was sandstone, which was quarried in the Odenwald.

Breuberg Castle served as a bailiwick castle, as a residence for noble families, was a camp for foreign workers in World War II and is the site of a toy factory. Today it houses a youth hostel, a museum and a castle tavern.

Historical sources say that Breuberg was never conquered due to its favorable location, which is a remarkable achievement considering the frequent wars of the early and late Middle Ages.

The castle tour

My rating: *****

I recommend taking the castle tour. It includes a visit to the museum.

For families with children, this is the ideal setting for adventure stories. There are various options available here: you can experience the castle with a guided tour by day and night, including tours specifically for children, get married at a civil ceremony, marvel at the castle museum or simply unwind in a historical place or turn on your mind's eye and become Robin Hood.

The guides are very committed and convey the history of the castle and its extravagant inhabitants using the many props with humor that also appeals to kids.

Greetings from Star Wars

This knight is either a time traveller, although I expressly do not want to spread any conjuration theories.

It seems much more likely to me that George Lucas was here in the 80s to get inspiration for his Star Wars characters. But I don't know that either.

The helmet in the foreground looks suspiciously like it.

The well

Construction of the well began in 1559. Nine years later, water was found at a depth of 85 m. A donkey on a treadmill was allowed to pump the water to the surface. The process took 45 minutes.

If you pour liquid in, it takes a good 10 seconds for it to reach the bottom.

So hold your phone firmly in your hands when taking photos.

The keep

My rating: ***

The 25-meter-high keep is accessible; the 115 steps up are narrow but worth it in the end. It surprises with a fantastic view over the wide surrounding area of ​​the Odenwald.

Count the steps again. But be careful: don't get distracted.

The Castle Tavern

My rating: ****

A ray of hope for all families with children, for hikers and for people who enjoy culture. Especially whining children and adults can be calmed down for a short time with an ice cream.

The benches in the courtyard also provide a place to reflect on what you have seen.

So who is the dead man from Breuberg?

Here is the solution:

Count Gottfried zu Erbach was born in Erbach in 1611, attended the Latin school and left at the age of 16 to travel to France and England. In 1634 he joined the Swedish army to secure Breuberg Castle as commander. On July 20, 1635 he died, probably as a result of a military conflict, at the age of only 23.