Great Castles in Germany: Trifels
Roman Imperial Fortress,Treasury and Richard the Lionheart's Prison
Castle Trifels, where replicas of the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation are shown, is a top tourist destination in the Pfalz (Palatinate).
Three castles loom on three mountains just above the small town of Annweiler near Landau in the Palatinate. It is an impressive scene with the Trifelsin the foreground as it dwarfs the other two castles atop two successively lower peaks. Tri-fels, literally "three rocks" in German, sits on a rock which has two clefts. But the name could also refer to the castle troika, with the biggest one on the tallest mountain (Sonnenberg=sun mountain), 494 m above sea level. As a symbol of power it is visible from afar. The two neighboring castles, Anebos and Münz , were built to defend the main castle.
Fortress and Treasury for the Crown Jewels
The Trifels is first mentioned in 1081 and was fortified under Frederick I Barbarossa (the red bearded one) into a cornerstone of his strategic string of castles along the Palatinate and Vosges mountains.In the high Middle Ages, Trifels Castle was regarded a cornerstone of imperial power.In the 12th and 13th centuries, it was in the possession of the Salic and Staufer emperors. Trifels served as a depository for the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.
"He who holds the Trifels, holds the empire."
The Trifels was Frederick I Barbarossa's favorite palace and is known as the place where the English King Richard the Lionheart (Coeur de Lion) was imprisoned in 1193 after his return from the crusades. The Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, asked for a ransom of 150,000 marks (2 times the annual income of the English crown), an astronomially high sum at the time. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard's mother, raised it all by confiscating the churches' gold and silver treasures and increasing taxes.
The Minstrel Blondel Rescues his King
Medieval folklore tells a different story, since Richard the Lionheart became an iconic figure in England. Blondel, the king's favorite ministrel, went looking for his missing master and sang a secret song (which he had composed with the king) outside of many castles throughout the empire. Eventually at the Trifels, Richard answered with the appropriate refrain. He was freed instantly by Blondel and his heroic men.
Downfall and Reconstruction
Perched on the three-fold sandstone and deep in the woods Trifels was impenetrable. Even today it is a steep climb up many stepsl from the parking lot. Its massive central tower dates from the early 13th century. It was also the gate-tower to the great hall, with a chapel housed in its upper story. A separate well-tower outside the ring wall is one of the few original medieval structures.
The end of the house of Staufer signalled the start of the downfall of Trifels castle. During the 17th and 18th century neighboring villagers used the castle as a quarry, until the founding of the Trifels Foundation in 1866 prevented further thefts.
Today's castle has little in common with the original building. During the Third Reich the Nazis intended to re-build the ruin into a "national monument". The reconstruction was based on models of castles of Friedrich II in Italy and the original plans were ignored.
Trifels Museum and Summer Concerts
Copies of the imperial insignia are shown in the Trifels treasury, while the originals have been moved to Vienna in 1800. The treasury consisted of the Emperor’s crown, Imperial orb, two empire swords and scabbards. The castle's large emperor's room has been used for classical concerts during the summer months for many years. The candle-lit hall provides a romantic ambiance for chamber music and the Palatia Jazz series.
Opening hours:
- Easter -September, 30th 9:00am -6:00 pm
- October 1-Easter 9:00am-5:00 pm
- closed in December.
Concerts at the Trifels (Schedule).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
