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Kisabeth Historical Review

Breuberg Castle Tours

B R E U B E R G   C A S T L E

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The oldest part of Breuberg castle was build by the Monastery

of Fulda in the middle of the 12th century. it was use as the

office of a bailiff, for the protection of the Monastary's land and property

As a consequence of structural extension during the late middle

ages and the 16th century, it became one of the largest castles

in Southern Germany.

It was rebuild by the Count of Wertheim in the 15th century

as his fortress, and as such played its role until the stormy

development of fighting techniques in the 16 th century destroyed

its political significance.

The castle has change from a fortress, to an administration

centre and is today a centre of romantic appeal and a focal point

for visitors to Breubert.

The owner, the Count of Hesse, is having the youth hostel,

in the upper part of the castle, renovated.

Page 2

Johann-Casimir-Building

This is the knight's room of Breuberg castle, also known as

the Erbach ceremonial room. At the entrance of this building

there is an inscription which tells us that it was build by

Johann-Casimir from Erbach. The year 1613 is mentioned as

the construction date. Accompanying this is the Crest of the

Counts of Erbach. The Counts of Erbach could also be

called "Masters of Breuberg".

1613 was a restless period. It was about this time that the

Catholic church tried to win back their formery dominant

position, while the Protestant church was reluctant to

relinquish any of its power.

Johann-Casimir von Erbach was born in 1584 and was

educated for ten years in Strasbourg before he became a

soldier. It was durning his military service, when he was

twenty years old,  that he was badly wounded in the war

against the Turks and then returned to his homeland.

Breuberg Castle was then altered into a residence, and the

Johann-Casimir room was built. This is how this building,

with its representative knight's room and ceiling of raised

plaster work, came about.

Johann-Casimir decorated this room with antique figures

from Greek mythology to inspire the onlocker.

Explanations of the pictures

Middle part:

The family tree show 32 crests illustrating Johann-Casimir's

roots. There are 16 crest from his father's side and 16 from

his mother's.

Frontpart:

One was expected to show reverence to the emperor. Thus

we find the master of the house within the procession of the

immortal Gods. Opposite, we see Jupiter, the highest God,

pulled in his chariot by two eagles. For Johann Casimir this

symbolised the Roman-German emperors.

The father of the Gods is followed by his daughter Diana,

the Goddess of nature and hunting. In Greek mythology

she was Artemis

Right Wall:

Saturn with a scythe in his right hand is the latin God of

agriculture. Here he is portrayed as Chronos who reminds

us of our mortality. The next chariot drawn by a pair of

griffins carries Nemesis, who with a sword and scales

imbodies justice.

In the background, Kibele, withe her crown, is identified as

the protecress of the City, as were the "Masters of

Breuberg" protectors of the town, also.

Facing the yard:

On the right, beside the door, we see a portrayal of the

3 graces. These Goddesses togeather represent beauty

and elegance. On the left of the door is Venus, the Goddess

of Love with her little son, Amor

In front of Venus is Sol, the Sun God with his chariot, who

was believe to bring the sunlight which supportss life.

The procession of the Gods also shows Mercury, the

messenger of the Gods. Falcons draw his chariot. He was

the God of thieves and merchants.

Pictures on the ceiling:

Back, left

To the left of the host we see how the maide-like Venus

glides over the water. Her chariot is a mussel, drawn by

two dolphins and propelled by a veil as a sail in the wind.

Centre-left:

Here, over-cofidence is characterised by Phaeton, the son

of the Sun God. He wanted to drive the sun chariot,

however he lost control and the chariot was shattered, the

horses fell from the sky and fire rained down on the earth,

sending cities up in flames.

Front-right:

With his contorted face Ixion spins like a wheel throught the

sky. After being forgiven for murdering his father, he was

allowed back on Mount Olypus by Zeus. There he tried to

seduce Hera, the Mother God. He was caught and must

now eternally spin through the sky on a wheel of fire.

Centre-right:

It is interesting to see Venus and Amor again in this

medallion. Amor has made Venus fall in love by wounding

her with and arrow. And Amor, the boy, has become a man.

Back right:

And finally Daedalus and Icarus. They were imprisoned in

Crete and made wings of feathers and wax in order to

escape. They were sucessful in their escape-bid. The highter

they flew, however, the greater grew their desire to be like

the Gods. When they came near to the sun., the wax melted

and their plunge to earth was inevitable.

And then the many miniatures with which the stucco-master,

Fischer, filled the empty spaces. There are representations

of Reynard the fox, monks and nuns, grape harvesting,

barrel making, the Phoeniz and many others.