Kurmainzisches Castle

Today's Tauberbischofsheim Castle has its origins in a 13th-century town castle. The castle occupied the southernmost point on the city wall and was strategically located near the confluence of the Brembach stream with the Tauber river. Today it is part of the grown city and is almost directly in the center. The complex was originally probably triangular and had a moat towards the city, which was leveled (today Schlossplatz). Only the keep, called Türmersturm, remains from the 13th-century town castle, which, with its impressive height of 28m, served well for monitoring the surroundings. The former entrance to the tower is at a height of approximately 8m, and the outer walls are approximately 2m thick. The round shape indicates a late construction.

In the 16th century, the castle was replaced by the Kurmainz Castle, which frames the keep from all sides. A generously designed courtyard and numerous decorations indicate the architectural style of the 16th century. In addition to the keep, two round defensive towers have been preserved in the northwest and northeast, which, together with a moat, flanked the northern front towards the city. The courtyard facade of the castle still houses an altar bay window, as well as numerous decorations, such as corner quoins. The stone buildings of the castle are surrounded by half-timbered houses, which lean against the higher castle or the city wall, among other things. The castle building itself has also been partly rebuilt in half-timbered style. To the south, one encounters wall remains of further buildings and a connecting piece with the former city wall.

The Tauberfränkisches Landesmuseum is located in the castle today. It houses numerous exhibits about the castle and information about the old fortress. Worth seeing is a city model of Bischofsheim, the old name of Tauberbischofsheim, which shows the city and castle in the 18th century. The connection of the castle with the city wall, of which a part still stands today, is clearly visible. Towards the city, i.e. to the north, there was a large water-filled moat and, as a defensive system, the two towers that have already been mentioned. On the northwest side of the castle building, one encounters an old exit that led directly to the city wall. Consequently, several remains of the old castle have been preserved next to the keep, which are not immediately apparent at first glance.