Normannstein Castle

Starting from a Romanesque round tower in a spur position above the town, this structure developed in several expansion stages into a high medieval residential castle and, after the expulsion of the Treffurt knights, into a ganerbenburg (castle shared by several families).

The round tower and the remains of the inner ring wall represent the oldest preserved parts of the castle. This tower has a carefully smoothed ashlar masonry structure; an addition in 1333 is verifiable - clearly recognizable by inferior building material; the former access is on the south side at a height of eight meters. The tower is windowless and served as a keep, initially freestanding in the first phase of the castle's expansion. Accordingly, the secure rooms were used as storage and a last refuge in case of a siege. A prison cell is suspected in the cellar. The wall thickness of the tower in the lower part is about three meters.

The large square tower with the two representative triforia inserted in the south wall are the highlight of the complex. The multi-story residential tower still shows remnants of a latrine bay on the west side above the ditch. On the first floor of the tower, the remains of a fireplace indicate the elevated living quality of the lord of the castle. Today, the castle museum is housed in this tower. On the top floor there is a covered viewing platform.

The small square tower probably dates from the same construction phase, but primarily served as a completely enclosed defensive tower. During the restoration, an iron spiral staircase was attached to the outside of the tower. To the left and right of the tower, one could access the battlements of the ring wall with still recognizable loopholes.

The so-called "Knappenbau" (Squire's Building) is now merely a ruin. The fireplace system is well preserved here, which proves the building as a living area and castle kitchen, which is why the building could have served as the palas of the castle.

The Gothic "Kapellengebäude" (Chapel Building) dates from 1417; as the only residential building, it was located outside the inner ring wall. The outer ring wall only surrounded the southern part of the core castle - the plan shows existing sections of this protective wall in dark blue and reconstructed sections in light blue.

The gatehouse dates from around 1200 and is no longer extant today. It was located on the outside of the ring wall, where a pointed arch door now stands.

During the renovation work ongoing since 1994, the largely destroyed areas in the courtyard were archaeologically investigated, which allowed the location of further outbuildings to be determined by exposed cellar remains and wall sections. A well or cistern for drinking water supply has not yet been found.

To protect the castle complex, there was a neck ditch about 10 m wide to the north, followed by a mighty, crescent-shaped protective rampart. From the south, the city wall reached the castle and covered the steep connecting path to the Normannstein spring and the courtyards of the castle men in the city. The main access to the castle was from the east and is still clearly visible through the existing hollow ways.

After the castle ruin was acquired privately in the 19th century, a building was erected over the remains of the gatehouse, which was used as a residence, hostel, castle museum, and excursion restaurant. During the currently (2008) ongoing renovation, this building was rebuilt again; the castle courtyard was paved, the stairs and sanitary facilities were renewed, the inner ring wall was restored, and the access road to the castle was asphalted.