The Altenburg is a castle that sits on the tallest of the seven hills of Bamberg, southern Germany, overlooking the town. It is located in Upper Franconia, a region in the state of Bavaria, and dates back to at least 1109.
The first mention of the Altenburg was in 1109, although it is likely that it was built on the spot of an earlier palisade castle.
It first served as what is known in German as a "Fliehburg". This is a castle that was not regularly inhabited but served mainly for city defense as a place where local residents could flee to in times of danger.
In 1553, during the Second Margrave War, the army of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, burned the castle down. Afterward, the castle was used as a prison for a while.
In 1801, the Bamberg physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored it from the ground up. The author E. T. A. Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he frequently stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers during the years 1808 to 1813.
Thanks and credit to Google Earth Studio for this aerial video.
The first mention of the Altenburg was in 1109, although it is likely that it was built on the spot of an earlier palisade castle.
It first served as what is known in German as a "Fliehburg". This is a castle that was not regularly inhabited but served mainly for city defense as a place where local residents could flee to in times of danger.
In 1553, during the Second Margrave War, the army of Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, burned the castle down. Afterward, the castle was used as a prison for a while.
In 1801, the Bamberg physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored it from the ground up. The author E. T. A. Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he frequently stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers during the years 1808 to 1813.
Thanks and credit to Google Earth Studio for this aerial video.
Category
🏖
TravelTranscript
00:00The Altenburg is a castle that sits on the tallest of the seven hills of Bamberg, southern
00:14Germany, overlooking the town.
00:17It is located in Upper Franconia, a region in the state of Bavaria, and dates back to
00:22at least 1109.
00:23The first mention of the Altenburg was in 1109, although it is likely that it was built
00:28on the spot of an earlier palisade castle.
00:31It first served as what is known in German as a «Fleberg».
00:34This is a castle that was not regularly inhabited but served mainly for city defense as a place
00:39where residents could flee to in times of danger.
00:42In 1251, the Bamberg, 1st Bischof, the sovereign bishops of Bamberg, acquired the castle.
00:48From 1305 to 1553, it was the residence of the bishops.
00:53In 1553, during the Second Margrave War, the army of Albert Alcibiades, margrave of
00:58Brandenburg-Kalmbach, burned the castle down.
01:01Afterward the castle was used as a prison for a while.
01:04In 1801, the Bamberg physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus acquired the decaying castle and restored
01:10it from the ground up.
01:11The author E.T.A.
01:12Hoffmann, who was friends with Marcus, felt so drawn to the castle that he frequently
01:17stayed for a long time in one of the wall towers during the years 1808-1813.
01:23In 1818, a society for the maintenance of the Altenburg, named the «Altenburg-Verein
01:28e.
01:29V.
01:30Bamberg» received the castle.
01:31The society was founded by Anton von Grafenstein, the postmaster of Bamberg.
01:36Today the castle is open for public tours.
01:39There is also a restaurant in the castle called the «Restaurant Altenburg».
01:43The restaurant also manages the so-called Knight's Hall, used mostly for events such
01:47as weddings or other celebrations.
01:49From 1952 to 1982, a brown bear named Poldi lived in a zwinger, a defensive enclosure,
01:55in the castle.
01:57The zwinger is still present, but today only houses a stuffed bear.
02:01Bamberg East Franconian
02:02Bamberg is a town in the Upper Franconia district in Bavaria, Germany, on the river Regnitz
02:07close to its confluence with the river Main.
02:10Bamberg had 79,000 inhabitants in 2022.
02:14The town dates back to the 9th century when its name was derived from the nearby Babenberg
02:18castle.
02:19Cited as one of Germany's most beautiful towns, with medieval streets and buildings.
02:24The old town of Bamberg with around 2,400 timber houses has been a UNESCO World Heritage
02:29Site since 1993.
02:31From the 10th century onwards, Bamberg became a key link with the Slav peoples.
02:36Notably those of Poland and Pomerania.
02:38It experienced a period of great prosperity from the 12th century onwards, during which
02:43time it was briefly the center of the Holy Roman Empire.
02:46Emperor Henry II was buried in the old town, alongside his wife Kunigunde.
02:51The town's architecture from this period strongly influenced that in northern Germany and Hungary.
02:57From the middle of the 13th century onwards, the bishops were princes of the empire and
03:01ruled Bamberg, overseeing the construction of monumental buildings.
03:05This growth was complemented by the obtaining of large portions of the estates of the Counts
03:09of Marin in 1248 and 1260 by the sea.
03:13Partly through purchase and partly through the appropriation of extinguished fifes.
03:18Bamberg lost its independence in 1802, following the secularization of church lands.
03:23Becoming part of Bavaria in 1803.
03:26The town was first connected to the German rail system in 1844, which has been an important
03:30part of its infrastructure ever since.
03:33After a communist uprising took control over Bavaria in the years following World War I.
03:38The state government fled to Bamberg and stayed there for almost two years before the
03:42Bavarian capital of Munich was retaken by Freikorps units, see Bavarian Soviet Republic.
03:48The first republican constitution of Bavaria was passed in Bamberg, becoming known as the
03:52Bamberger Verfassung, Bamberg Constitution.
03:56That is all.
03:57Subscribe and post comments for future videos.
04:08Thank you for watching.
04:09See you soon.
04:10Bye.
04:11Bye.
04:12Bye.
04:13Bye.
04:14Bye.
04:15Bye.
04:16Bye.
04:17Bye.
04:18Bye.
04:19Bye.
04:20Bye.
04:21Bye.
04:22Bye.
04:23Bye.
04:24Bye.
04:25Bye.
04:26Bye.
04:27Bye.
04:28Bye.
04:29Bye.
04:30Bye.
04:31Bye.
04:32Bye.
04:33Bye.
04:34Bye.
04:35Bye.
04:36Bye.