Berwartstein Castle is in the Wasgau, the southern part of
the Palatinate Forest in the Rhineland – Palatinate State in the southwestern
Germany. It was one of the rock castles that were part of defenses of the Palatinate
during the Middle Ages. This castle is noted in the publication Works of
preservation of Monuments of Rhineland, which was assembled and edited for the
Ministry of Education and Culture.
Although the Berwartstein castle appears more complete when compared to
the ruins of neighboring castles. It is only a restoration of the original rock
castle. It is the only castle in the palatinate that was rebuilt and re –
inhabited after its demolition.
During the 13th century feudal tenants who carried
the name Von Berwartstein inhabited the castle. The name Berwartstein Castleis
mentioned for the first time in a document dating from 1152, when the castle
was granted by Emperor Frederick Barbarosa. The imperial cities OF Strasbourg and
Hagenau joined forces against Von Berwartstein. Following several weeks of
futile attacks against the castle, they succeeded in taking it in 1314, with
the help of a traitor. A large amount of booty and about 30 were taken to Strasbourg. Knights of Berwartstein were
permited to buy the prisoners back for a large ransom. The knights of
Berwartstein were forced to cell their castle to the brothers Ort and Ulrich
von Weingarten. Four years later the castle became the property of Wessenburg
Abbey.
The Monastery at Weissenburg placed the castle in stewardship
and established a feudal system. This allowed
the dismissal of vassals who became too presumptuous. Thus monastery
held possession of the castle for some time..
After von Trotha’s death Berwartstein castle was inherited by
his son Cristoph and when he died, it went to his son – in – law friedrich von
Fleckenstein and remained in the hands of this family for three generations,
during this time the castle was destroyed by a fire in 1591 and since there is
nomention of any attacks. It is presumed that the castle was hit by lighting.
The village of Erlenbach below the castle was completely
destroyed during Second World War and its inhabitants sought shelter in the
castle. After the war, the roof was not financially supported Alfons Wadle went about the renovation himself.
At first he was able to do what was essential to protect the castle from the
elements.