To be privately owned
CastleMartinsheim-Gnötzheim
Gnötzheim Castle
Gnotzheim Castle was a castle and later a palace complex in Gnotzheim, today part of the municipality of Martinsheim in the Lower Franconian district of Kitzingen in Bavaria. Individual buildings are still preserved today.
In 1137, the place was first mentioned as the inheritance of the Willanzheim nobleman Gerung in a dispute with the Würzburg Cathedral Chapter and formed an office of the Cathedral Provostry around 1300. However, the majority of the place belonged to the manor of the noble families of Seinsheim (1300/1327–1387), von Seckendorff (1390–1426) and von Rosenberg (1426–1632), before finally passing to the Counts of Schwarzenberg in 1646 after their extinction. Of the repeatedly destroyed castle (1418, 1523, 1645 in the Thirty Years' War), the "tithe barn" built in 1562 and a round tower still stand.
The significant Romanesque church of the 12th century was redesigned in the late Gothic and Renaissance periods and still contains two Rosenberg tombstones from the 16th century. It served as their burial place.
Destruction of the Castle in 1523+
In the middle of the 16th century, the robber knight Hans Thomas von Absberg abducted merchants from imperial cities in Franconia and Swabia on their trade journeys and demanded a high ransom for their release. He had allies who supported him in his raids and hid him in their castles when there was a risk of capture. The Rosenbergs, then owners of the Gnotzen castle complex, also supported him, hoping to replenish their dwindling wealth a little. In 1523, the Swabian League finally sent its troops to raze 23 "robber's nests" to the ground, including Wachbach Castle. On June 23, they reached the complex and blew it up to prevent the return of the Rosenbergs.
The Woodcut by Hans Wandereisen+
The subsequently colored and inscribed woodcut by Hans Wandereisen states: VIII. Gnotzen belonged to Cuntz von Rosenberg - located near Speckfeldt. It was burned by the League on the 13th day of June. This view is the oldest depiction of the castle, which is prominently shown in the cut. Protected by a moat and a castle wall, the complex lies outside the village, of which there is no trace in the cut. Through a small gatehouse, one reaches the inner castle gate, which is integrated into the castle wall, via a drawbridge. The latter shows a tower at each of the three visible corners. In the center of the complex, the keep can be seen, which has a bay turret on each side in the upper half. To the right and left of it, the palas and other castle properties can be recognized. The entire complex is in flames. The League's troops here consist of about 70 horsemen in the left half of the picture and about 50 landsknechts in the right half. In the middle, two higher officers and a mounted captain can be identified.
The Complex Today+
Parts of the castle complex are still clearly recognizable today. The central massive building is the tithe barn, which is now used as a granary. A chapel, still identifiable today with a fresco inside, and the size of the building suggest an originally integral part of the building as part of the castle. A nearby round tower is also well preserved externally. Traces of moat systems and experiences during past construction work provide further clues about the extent of the castle.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Mobile Geschichte
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 49.6153, 10.1814