Meersburg Castle
In southwestern Germany, in Baden-Württemberg, near the town Meersburg, is the eponymous medieval fortress. Castle Meersburg rises majestically on the north coast of the great Lake Constance or better known as Lake Bodensee. The borders of this basin flowed in three countries - Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The city of palace Meersburg lays on the north coast of the German part of Lake Constance, between Friedrichshafen and Uberlingen. There are two ancient castles - medieval, known as Old Castle or Castle Meersburg and the new baroque palace, which dates from the 16th century.
Meersburg Castle is considered the oldest fully preserved palace across Germany. The old fort dates from 628, when Dagobert I, King of the Franks, built this place and military granite tower overlooking Lake Constance. Over the years and centuries Meersburg had added improvements, extensions and new facilities. The main towers of the castle were built around 1509
In 1334, when the castle was under siege by Emperor Louis of Bavaria, Bishop Nicholas I had dug a secret underground passage from the castle to the lake. A total of 400 miners were tasked to complete the tunnel on 14 weeks of siege, which would allow the secret delivery of supplies to the castle. Thanks to the secret passage, the castle stood a long time. After a while the tunnel entrance was used as a prison. Known as "the hole of fear”, the prisoners were condemned to starvation and death.
Today, beyond the walls of the castle Meersburg you can enjoy a walk back in medieval times, as the 28 fully furnished rooms have been preserved in a unique way. With its low ceilings, granite floors and authentic furniture, they completely transform everyday life in medieval times. Particularly impressive is the extensive exposure of military gear, armor, weapons etc, which is one of the best in the whole of Germany.
The owner of a privately owned castle has a library with a rich collection of medieval manuscripts, including one piece of the legendary "Song of Nibelungs, " which dates from the early 13th century.
Meersburg was a favorite place for the German poet, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, which was the sister of Lasberg who owned the castle in 1837. Annette died in the palace in 1848.
