The remains of the Castle can be visited
RuinDollnstein
Dollnstein Castle (Ruin)
Dollnstein Castle is situated on and around a prominent rock formation approximately 400 meters above sea level on the northern bank of the Altmühl in Dollnstein in the Bavarian district of Eichstätt. The meaning of the place name is not definitively clarified; it possibly means "stone of Tola". The upper castle is considered a castle ruin, while the lower castle is excellently preserved.
The actual origins of Dollnstein Castle date back to the Carolingian era. By 1147 at the latest, the castle was owned by the Counts of Grögling, who later also named themselves after Dollnstein and finally after Hirschberg. In 1305, the Counts of Oettingen took possession of Dollnstein and its castle. In 1360, the Lords of Heideck bought the town and the castle. In 1440, Bishop Albrecht II von Hohenrechberg of Eichstätt acquired, among other things, the castle and market of Dollnstein for the Prince-Bishopric of Eichstätt, in whose possession they remained until 1802. Through secularization, the complex fell to Bavaria and in 1803 to Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany. In 1804, the castle was auctioned off to citizens of Dollnstein and the upper castle was demolished. The economic buildings of the outer bailey served residential purposes. Until around 1850, structural remains of the upper castle still stood. Parts of the lower castle have been extensively renovated since 2006.
Description+
According to archaeological findings, the origin of the main castle, covering approximately 0.56 hectares, is a defensive structure dating to the 9th/10th century, fortified with a wall built in timber-earth construction. This was probably erected in place of an unfortified settlement from around 700 onwards. At this site, a first stone ring wall and a stone residential building were built in the 11th century as the core of the lower castle. In the 12th century, parts of the ring wall were rebuilt and a chamber gate, still preserved today, was constructed on the south side of the castle. During a further construction phase in the 14th century, the ring wall received, among other things, a battlement. In 1445, economic buildings and castle stables were added to the wall.
Of the lower castle, the castle gate and the semi-circularly attached economic buildings of the late Middle Ages, built in early Altmühl-Jura style, are still standing. These are extremely valuable in terms of architectural history and are being extensively renovated. The "Altmühl Information Center Dollnstein Castle" is to be housed here.
Overall, little is known about the construction history of the upper castle. Some still visible wall remains are clearly Romanesque, presumably 12th century.
In November 2007, archaeological excavations uncovered a ceramic vessel filled with silver coins and other precious metal objects from around 1370. The reasons for the deposition are unknown.
The castle also included a large amount of agricultural land, which was originally managed by a so-called "Bauhof" or "Maierhof" (located northwest of the castle). After the transition from a noble castle to a purely administrative seat, the "Bauhof" was broken up into 8 field fiefs in 1459.
In Dollnstein, there was at least one armory until the 16th century.
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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: 48.8754, 11.0729