Ehrenfels Castle (Ruin)

On the Schlossberg today, only the rampart and ditch, remains of the irregularly polygonal mountain ring and the gate, the ruins of two round towers and one semi-circular tower, as well as wall and foundation remains of the residential wing of the former castle can still be seen.

Deed of Donation from 1256

The castle is first mentioned in a deed of donation by Chunrad von Ernfels. He donated his estate Dettenhofen and his mother Hatwig her estate Anzenhofer as compensation for the annual tithe to the Pielenhofen monastery. In this document, which is located in the State Archives in Augsburg, the Ehrenfelser, who emerged from the Hohenfelser, are mentioned for the first time. Even in the 16th century, the Ehrenfelser were referred to as patrons and founders of the second oldest Cistercian convent in the Diocese of Regensburg, founded in 1237.

Construction

Away from old settlement and parish centers, the Ehrenfelser, who initially served the bishops of Regensburg, established their center of power on the border of the Prince-Bishopric of Regensburg. At that time, this location must have been ideal for a castle, as potential enemies could be spotted early due to its exposed position. The castle's special ditch system is still recognizable today and indicates that there must have originally been an extensive outer bailey to the south. Also unusual is the division of the core castle into two parts, which is still unmistakable despite progressive decay and is attributed to an expansion of the original castle complex in the late Middle Ages. Already in 1567, the lordship of Ehrenfels and thus also the castle was sold to Pfalz-Neuburg, lost its function as a center, and has increasingly fallen into disrepair over the years. In part, it was even used as a quarry for the nearby Beratzhausen.

Steady Decay

Already in 1914, the former mayor of Beratzhausen, Alois Koller, apparently feared the decay of the castle, for in his "Chronicle of the Market Beratzhausen" he writes: "may the moss-covered remains of this venerable ruin, protected by a sheltering hand ... and thus the remnants of Ehrenfels Castle proclaim to later generations as a sublime monument that mighty families resided here for centuries." However, at the beginning of the 20th century, traces of the horse pond, vaulted beginnings of the sacristy of St. Michael's castle chapel, and a flat archway were still present, but more and more stones disappeared over the years. In 1982, the then local and heritage curator began the restoration and securing of the severely endangered walls. Despite the many hours of work invested, the work could not be completed due to financial reasons.

Argula von Stauff

Also closely associated with Ehrenfels Castle is the reformer Argula von Grumbach, born Reichsfreiin von Stauff. She was probably born in 1492 and grew up at Ehrenfels Castle. From 1523, Argula took a stand for Luther with her pamphlets. The New Zealand theologian Peter Matheson attributed Argula's outspoken demeanor to "the pride and self-confidence of the Stauffer, who were among the most prominent families of the Bavarian high nobility."

The Stauffer of Ehrenfels and their Castle in Literature

However, in later years, especially in the 19th century, the castle ruin exerted a strong fascination on interesting personalities. In 1827, the historian and archivist Max Prokop von Freyberg wrote his work "Die Stauffer von Ehrenfels, theils Geschichte, theils Roman" (The Stauffer of Ehrenfels, partly history, partly novel), and Julie von Zerzog, known for her correspondence with the former reform minister Count von Montgelas, contributed an article for the historical association Regensburg and the Upper Palatinate titled "Beratzhausen und die Ruine Ehrenfels im Nordgau" (Beratzhausen and the Ehrenfels Ruin in Nordgau).

Stauffer Gravestones

In 1478, Hans von Stauff died. His valuable tombstone, crafted by master builder Roritzer, which shows the Stauffer in Gothic plate armor, was allegedly originally in St. Michael's castle chapel and is now affixed to the west wall of the Beratzhausen parish church.