Castle Frankenstein Legend and Poetry Nobility’s residence, veteran’s Description of the ruin A dragonkiller, but not asylum, destination for an outing The core- is the oldest area a monster of the site and dates partly from the time of foundation. It was Castle Frankenstein is often described as a surrounded by a 2 yards thick mysterious place. But there aren’t any con- polygonal curtain wall (1). Buil- nections to Mary Shelley’s novel „Franken- dings leaned closely thronged stein“. In 1814, the English author had been against it. The quarrystone work on a boattrip on the river Rhine. She had a had a roughcast. Currently, the Armorial plate with tracery frieze of the gate- break for a couple of hours in Gernsheim/ tall curtain wall can only be seen Rhine -- but in the middle of the night. As Excavation at the eastern side of at the western and the southern Gernsheim is approximately 15 miles (line- the core-castle side. In 2008, remaining parts of ar distance) far from Castle Frankenstein the wall were found and brought you can hardly see the castle, even by day! up at the eastern edge in the However, Castle Frankenstein is rich in au- course of restaurations (2). By thentic legends. Unfortunately these are this opportunity also the foun- falling more and more into oblivion. One dations of a gate and inside buil- of the most famous legends tells about dings were discovered. There is a Lord Georg and the dragon: Castle Frankenstein is situated on a hilltop, approximately 400 debris pile of another building (3) metres (MSL) high above the Rhine-valley. It is the northernmost in the north-west. Its cellar is still „Long, long ago a dangerous dragon lived castle of those along the Bergstrasse. The castle’s history is clo- in good condition. Nearby, one Georg von Franken- near the well. The peasants of the village Outer tower with ramparts Picturesque small sally gate sely connected with legends and poetry; therefore, it is a popu- can see an old kitchen building stein (†1531) (Nieder Beerbach) went to Lord Georg of lar attraction for visitors from all parts of the world. First menti- Western side of the core-castle (4) and the palace (5), the castle’s Frankenstein, a brave knight, and poured oned in 1252 by a charter, Castle Frankenstein was thereafter most noble building. A tower (6) out their troubles. He promised to help. He put on his armour the place of residence of the noble lineage Frankenstein for 400 in the south displays the motto The Lords of the Castle and rode to the well where the dragon was taking a rest in the years. During this time, the castle was expanded in several pha- of Family Frankenstein in its wall: The tomb slabs in the chapel (11) came sun. Lord Georg got off his horse and attacked the enemy. The ses to an impressive estate. In 1662, the family Frankenstein sold „Zu Gott steht meine Treue“ (My from the village churches of Eberstadt and dragon fought for his life, puffed and spewed out fire and steam. the castle to the landgrave of Hessen-Darmstadt. Accordingly it loyality belongs to God). Nieder Beerbach and were brought to this Finally the knight was victorious. But as the beast struggled in was used as a housing area for veterans and began to deterio- place in the 19th century. They show some agony, it coiled its tail with the poisonous spine around the rate. In the middle of the 19th century, the castle was made into The core-castle is surrounded by of the last members of Frankenstein’s nobi- knight’s leg and stung. Lord Georg reached his castle with gre- a destination for outings. The tower of the core-castle (6) and the two wards. The eastern one (7) lity, who resided in the castle. The family’s at difficulty and died from his wound three days later. Nowadays gate-tower (9) were enlarged and the chapel (11) was restored. In was supposably erected in the founder had been Lord Konrad Reiz of you can still see his tomb in the church of Nieder Beerbach.“ (By 1965, a modern restaurant was erected. Therefore several histo- 13th century, the western one Breuberg. In 1272 (maybe as early as 1252) August Nodnagel, 1803-1853) ric buildings were broken down. (8) in the 14th century. Also, the he dubbed himself „von Frankenstein“, gate-tower (9) dates from the like his castle. Through the centuries, the Another legend tells the tales of a knight named Arbogast of late 14th century. Its rear was Family’s motto at the inner tower spelling of the name has varied. The fami- Frankenstein. It is said, he lived already 945 AD, but it’s an inven- probably already open in the ly still exists and lives in Hesse and Fran- tion of a tournament book of the 16th century. Middle Ages. At its front, there conia. Nowadays they write their name: are still traces of the former Tomb Irmel von Cleen „Franckenstein”. Their coat of arms exhibits : the deepening for (1494-1533) a red symbol like an red anchor on a gol- the drawbridge‘s platform, the den ground. It is mostly interpreted as an apertures for the ropes and the axe or an ancient hatchet for killing wolves. basic stones of their spin axes. Since 1670 the Lords of Franckenstein are Above the entrance, there is an „Reichsfreiherren“, which title was granted tracery frieze and a nice armorial by the German Emperor Leopold l. Many 1) inner curtain wall plate. 2) place of excavation 3) debris pile of a former building of them had been high Catholic dignitari- 4) kitchenbuilding es. Arbogast of Franckenstein (1825-1890) 5) palace 6) inner tower 11) chapel had been an important politician as a mem- 7) eastern ward 12) outer 8) western ward 13) outer gate Present groundplan View from the core-castle to ber of the Zentrumspartei in the Reichstag Oldest known painting of the castle; fantasy and reality are mixed. 9) gate-tower 14) outer tower 10) sally gate 15) boundary stones of Castle Frankenstein the north (government). (Johann Tobias Sonntag, 1747. Schlossmuseum Darmstadt) Boundary stones On the trail Visitors’ Informations Verwaltung der Staatlichen The way to Castle Frankenstein Schlösser und Gärten Under the sign of the „Hippe“ Public transportation: Tramway: Line 6,7 or 8 to Eberstadt, stop „Kirche“. Get out, turn left and follow Schlossstrasse, then „Frankensteiner Stras- se” until the end and then follow the mark: blue B (1 hour). Bus: From Eberstadt „Wartehalle” bus- line NB to Nieder Beerbach, stop „Untergasse“. Get out, Castle cross Kreuzgasse, turn right to Frankensteiner Weg (near the inn „Darmstaedter Hof“). Look to the mark: white double line. (45 Frankenstein min.)

The boundary stones at the northern wall Cars and coaches: an der of the castle chapel (15) date from 1556. Leave motorway A 5 at exit Pfungstadt/Eberstadt and follow the Stones remaining from this period are street signs. Bergstraße very rare. These stones had to separate Opening Times the district Seeheim from Frankenstein’s Castle restaurant: „Burg Frankenstein“, Event & Restaurant, territory. Seeheim was under the rule of 64367 Muehltal, phone 0049-6151-501501, the Counts of Erbach. At the left stone e-mail: [email protected] (a) the sign of the „Hippe“ (a former vine Opening times March-December: knife) can be seen. It is also shown at the Tuesday-Sunday 11.00 a.m.–10.00 p.m. northern wall of the old town hall of See- Opening times January-February: heim, and it is still today part of Seeheim’s On the trail to the original places of the boundary stones weekend 11.00 a.m.–6 p.m. emblem. The missing upper part of the How to fi nd the boundary stones In autumn annual „Halloween Festival“ during three weekends. right stone (b) was also marked with this Top of the stone (b) sign. 2008 both historic stones were Starting point: Castle’s parking ground. Cross the road (yellow) Other objects of interest: brought up to the castle for protection and follow the gently rising way (blue). Pass by a sports ground 1. Magnetic rock south of the castle against vandalism. Originally, they were at the right. At the end of a small hollow way there is the historic 2. „Walderlebnispfad“, 3 kilometres, 2-3 hours invites you to placed on the border between the mu- place of the stone (b). This place is now marked by a present enjoy nature on a special nature trail. Mark: yellow L middle nicipalities Seeheim-Jugenheim and boundary stone. Turn right and follow a steep footpath down of a yellow circle and a blue fl ame at the edge. Muehltal (territories Malchen and Nieder the slope along the border (red). Cross the following three paths Beerbach). Boundary stones showing and turn right at the fourth path. Follow this way until reaching Other internet information: Frankenstein’s coat of arms were found a bench. Approximately 35 yards down the slope there is the Burgrestaurant: www.burg-frankenstein.de; in Ockstadt, Frankfurt and Buerstadt, historic place of stone (a). Its place is also marked by a present Geschichtsverein Eberstadt/ Frankenstein e.V.: but not near the castle. It is quite pos- boundary stone; (you can read the letters FM). This new bounda- www.eberstadt-frankenstein.de; sible that they had been taken away by ry stone marks a striking point: the border bends sharply, reco- Walderlebnis Frankenstein e.V.: the Landgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt 1662. gnizable by a 15 centimetres deep boundary ; also, there www.walderlebnis-frankenstein.de; Seeheim’s Hippe is a change in the vegetation. Back at the bench the route (blue) Datenbank der Dt. Burgenvereinigung e.V.: leaves the border line (red). Continue the way until crossing an http:/www.ebidat.de; old hollow way. On its left side a narrow footpath leads up the Verein zur Pfl ege historischer Grenzmale Hessen e.V.: slope. Cross the road (yellow) and further the way (blue) to the www.grenzmale-hessen.de; castle. This trail isn’t easy to walk, but it is extremely interesting and takes approximately 1 hour. Verwaltung der Staatlichen Schlösser und Gärten Hessen (VSG) Schloss, 61348 Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, Tel. 0 61 72 - 92 62-0, Fax 0 61 72 - 92 62-190 www.schloesser-hessen.de, [email protected] GROSSER STEIN (a): Concept and text: Michael Müller Translation: Evelyn Schenkelberg UTM (WGS84): 32 U E 0 475 548 N 5 515 569; Images: Landkarte Burg Frankenstein und Umgebung: Kartengrundlage Vermes- Geogr. Koor.: N 49°47‘32‘‘ E 8° 39‘37‘‘ sungsamt Darmstadt 2008 (nachbearbeitet); Seeheimer Hippe: Gemeinde Seeheim Spaziergänge durch Schlösser und Gärten KLEINER STEIN (b): Jugenheim (nachbearbeitet); Abbildung Johann Tobias Sonntag: Privatsammlung Schloßmuseum Darmstadt (Eigenes Foto) Kulturerbe Hessen UTM (WGS84): 32 U E 0 475 969 N 5 515 187; Graphic Design: Christopher Wahrenberg, Frankfurt/Main, www.cwahrenberg.de Place of the stone (a) Place of the stone (b) Geogr. Koor.: N 49 °47‘19‘‘ E 8°39‘58‘‘ Edition: 1st edition, 10.000, 2009