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CastleGroß-Umstadt
Rodensteiner Castle (Groß-Umstadt)
Rodensteiner Castle (often also called Rodensteiner Hof) is located at the northern corner of the old town of Groß-Umstadt in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district in Hesse and is one of the seven former noble residences of the city.
The former noble court is located barely 50 meters north of the Wambolt'sches and Pfälzer castles and within shouting distance of the former Curti Castle, forming the western end of the northern old city wall, which was protected at its eastern end by the Darmstädter Castle.
The first evidence dates back to 1409. The Count Palatine Ruprecht III granted the manorial fiefdom to Sibolt Schelm von Bergen (fief)free. Members of the family had been in office and dignity as bailiffs and vogts for the Electorate of the Palatinate since the 13th century. In 1454, a division into front and back houses for the brothers Hans and Eberhart Schelm von Bergen took place. For the year 1465, an expansion of the castle is documented, including the addition of the still existing hexagonal stair tower with a stone spiral staircase. At the same time, the area was expanded through purchase. This was done by Hans S.v.B.'s son Karl S.v.B (* 1443, † February 16, 1489 in Umstadt). In 1540, the area passed through the marriage of Anna Schelm von Bergen to Otto von Boyneburg (here Boineburg), who was bailiff in Umstadt and had a large part of it rebuilt. This can also be seen on the preserved alliance coat of arms of the Schelm von Bergen and von Boineburg families with the year above it on the archway next to the former main entrance. From 1585 (marriage of Otto von Boineburg's daughter Anna to Jörg III. von Rodenstein) until their extinction in the male line in 1671, the von Rodenstein family is documented as owners and namesake. It was then a Catholic collecture, parsonage, and teacher's residence. Since 1909, it has been in municipal ownership and is now a senior citizens' residence.
Building History+
The building itself and the rear garden are today only a fraction of the castle property, which, located in the middle of the city, was integrated into the urban ensemble in the late Middle Ages and modern times. For more than half of the area towards the old city wall running to the north, no written evidence of the type of construction and use has been found to date.
The main building itself largely corresponds to the new buildings around 1550 by the von Boineburg family and subsequent alterations and extensions. The main building is made of masonry, hewn and plastered sandstone with a half-timbered superstructure. In 1789, a facade change was added, and in 1980, during renovation and conversion measures, the roof was altered. On the street side, the massive ground floor is characterized by a large, flat-arched gateway with a pedestrian gate. Next to it are the coats of arms with architectural framing and a segmental pediment. The upper half-timbering includes figures of men. The courtyard rear is dominated by the two-story hexagonal stair tower with a stone spiral staircase. After several sales with the extinction of the Rodenstein family, the main building temporarily housed the Catholic collecture, a parsonage and teacher's residence, and the residence of the municipal official.
The main building is a cultural monument due to its local historical and architectural significance.
The Small Rodensteiner Hof, located to the northeast, which later housed a brewery, was demolished in 1840 and replaced by a Lutheran school with teacher's residences.
The Rodensteiner Bürgerhäuser (citizen's houses) adjacent to the main building to the northeast were built in 1598. In 1980, they were demolished, and existing stylistic elements, such as a Renaissance archway with the strapwork typical of the city and a Baroque door with sandstone jambs, were incorporated into the new additions. These old components are individual cultural monuments.
Current Use+
Today, the castle is owned by the city, and the entire building ensemble is a senior citizens' residential complex with a meeting place. It is not assisted living and it is not a nursing facility.
The city has set up a counseling center in the castle. It is responsible as the municipal women's representative for the staff and as the equal opportunities officer for all people in the city. The other half of the full-time position is dedicated to senior citizens' work.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 49.8692, 8.9279