The moated Kirchhausen castle was built between 1570 and 1576 by order of Heinrich von Bogenhausen (Teutonic Order). He replaced the old castle that was built by Thomas Knoll from Weinsberg, whose stone cutter’s mark is still visible today in the keystone of the archway.
Today, the moat around the castle is no longer filled with water. A stone bridge leads the way into the castle courtyard, which took over the former wooden draw bridge. To the left and right of the gateway construction there are arrow slits decorated as lion heads. The two towers served as a means of defence, then as straw stores, bull pens or cubicles for travelling tradesmen. The deanery is the oldest part of the castle.
In the last century the building has been used as a school house and town hall. It was renovated in 1965. Today it is the home of the Resident’s Registration Office of Kirchhausen.A castle festival takes place every two years. The castle can be visited during the Resident’s Registration Office opening hours.
References:The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.