Trifels Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trifels Castle |
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Reichsburg Trifels
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Trifels Castle as seen from Martinsturm
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| Alternative names | Burg Trifels |
| General information | |
| Status | partially restored |
| Type | Rock castle |
| Town or city | Annweiler am Trifels |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 49°11′46″N 7°58′44″E / 49.19611°N 7.97889°E |
| Elevation | 479m |
| Governing body | General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland-Palatinate |
Trifels Castle (in German, Reichsburg Trifels) is an old castle in southwestern Germany. It sits high up on a mountain peak, about 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. You can find it near the small town of Annweiler am Trifels in the Palatinate area.
The castle is built on a red sandstone mountain that has three peaks. Trifels Castle is on the Sonnenberg peak. On the other two peaks, you can see the ruins of two other castles: Anebos Castle and Scharfenberg Castle. Trifels Castle has been rebuilt over time since the 1800s. Today, you can see copies of the Imperial Regalia there. These are the crowns and jewels used by old emperors. Trifels Castle is a very popular place to visit in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
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History of Trifels Castle
Trifels Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1081. At that time, a local noble named Diemar owned it. Later, it became an "Imperial Castle" (Reichsburg), meaning it belonged to the emperor.
Trifels and the Holy Roman Empire
In 1113, Emperor Henry V made Trifels an Imperial Castle. This meant it was very important to the emperor. An archbishop named Adalbert of Mainz was even held prisoner here for several years.
After Emperor Henry V died in 1125, the castle became a safe place for the Imperial Regalia. These were the valuable items like crowns and scepters of the Hohenstaufen emperors. They were kept here until 1220, when Emperor Frederick II moved them to another castle.
Richard the Lionheart's Imprisonment
Trifels Castle is also famous because Richard the Lionheart, who was King of England, was held prisoner here. He was captured in December 1192 while returning from the Third Crusade.
Richard was held at Trifels for about three weeks, from March 31 to April 19, 1193. There's a legend that a singer named Blondel de Nesle found him, but Richard's location was actually not a secret.
Decline and Rebuilding of Trifels
After the Hohenstaufen emperors lost power, Trifels Castle became less important. It was given away or sold many times. In 1330, it was given to the Electoral Palatinate. By 1410, it belonged to the Dukes of Palatinate-Simmern and Zweibrücken.
The castle slowly fell apart, especially after the Thirty Years' War. People even used its stones to build other things. The main living area and outer walls almost completely disappeared.
Modern Restoration Efforts
Around 1840, the kings of Bavaria started to rebuild the castle. Many plans were made over the years. In the 1930s and 1940s, a big rebuilding project took place. More work was done from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Today, much of the castle you see is a modern reconstruction. It doesn't look exactly like the original medieval castle. It has a large tower outside its main wall, connected by a bridge. The rocky area around the castle is also a popular spot for people who enjoy climbing mountains.
Gallery
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Remote view
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Entrance tower
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Stairway
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Main tower
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Vaulted passage
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Castle hall
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Copy of the Imperial Regalia
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Copy of the Imperial Regalia
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View towards Annweiler
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View towards Scharfenberg and Anebos
