BURG
TRAUSNITZ CASTLE
Beautiful Medieval Fortress in Landshut Bavaria
The Wittelsbachs
were the primary ruling family of Bavaria. The Ludwigs and Maximillians
whose palaces can be found all around Munich and environs,
from the royal jewels at the Residence (see Residence
Palace Jewels)
to the summer palaces at Schliessheim and Nymphenburg (see Nymphenburg
Palace)
from the Baroque period, even to the faux Disney inspiration 19th Century
gothic
revival
castle of Neuschwanstein (see Mad
Ludwigs Fantasy Castle), but few actual
medieval fortress castles (burgs) survive of the Bavarian royals. One
of the most significant
sits atop
a hill over-looking the town of Landshut on the Isar River, about 40
minutes to the north east of Munich.
Trausnitz
Castle is the ancestral home of the Wittelsbach Dukes of Lower Bavaria,
called in their day the “Rich Dukes” of
Bavaria-Landshut. The Town of Landshut was founded in 1204 by Duke
Ludwig I. The castle in its medieval present fortress form with an
almost intact ring of fortifications with peel towers, battlements
and gates mostly from the late 1400s presents impressive German style
medieval architecture. The high square keep known as the Wittelsbach
Tower at the foremost edge of the promontory is the most distinctive
feature of Trausnitz Castle from outside the walls.
Inside
the courtyard, one sees the later Renaissance palace additions
with a more Italianate
feel of stacked arch walks and layered stairways. A tour of the
castle features the vaulted Gothic Old Knights Hall, the St George
Chapel with unique winged alter sculptures and the statue
of
St. George slaying the dragon. The wood paneled chambers represent
the castle’s time as a Renaissance period residence in the 16th
Century with the famous Fool’s Staircase depicting fresco scenes
of the Italian Commedia dell’arte. The tour ends with a view
of the town and surrounding countryside from the balcony. Burg Trausnitz
remained in its medieval state when Duke Ludwig the Tenth built his
palace residence in the town below in 1536. The Landshut Wittelsbach Town Residence
is an impressive example of German Renaissance style influenced by
the
palazzos
of the dukes of northern Italy (see Palazzo
Colorno).
The Wittelsbachs
were avid collectors of art and curios (see Museum of Bavarian Kings Hohenschangau). In the Kunst and Wunderkammer
Museum at Burg Trausnitz Castle founded by Duke Albrecht
in 1565 was one of the precursers of today’s modern museums,
born of the Renaisssance of the 16th Century when art and the natural
wonders of the world took on a mutual significance of the opening of
knowledge and curiosity beyond the religious dogma of the dark ages.
The Art and Wonder Chamber divided into the categories of Artificialia,
Naturalia, Exotica and Scientifica holds fascinating collection of
exotic art from far flung lands, curiosity specimens of nature, early
scientific instruments of astrolabes and automates, and intriguing
art works of sculptures, rock crystal cups and cabinets of amber, as
well as portraits of the assorted Wittelsbachs.
Visiting Castle Trausnitz Landshut
The
castle tour takes about 45 minutes and the museum can be visited
separately without
taking the tour. The Burgshrank café offers
snacks on a terrace overlooking the west approach. Opening times are
9am to 6pm daily April through September and 10am to 4pm
October through March. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Trauznitz
Castle can be reached by train to Landshut and #7 city bus to the
Kalcherstrasse stop, by car Landshut is just off the A92 autobahn,
about 15 minutes from the Munich International Airport, requiring an
winding drive up to the castle parking lot the from city's main road.
The castle itself is about a 7-10 minute walk from parking lot through
the castke Hofgarten green park. The castle can also be reached by
a steep hike from the town below.
Four times
a year, twice in summer, the town of Landshut re-enacts the “Landshut
Wedding” celebrating the marriage of Georg,
the son of Duke Ludwig "the Rich" to Hedwig, the daughter
of the King of Poland in 1475. The celebrations are in the town center
surrounding the gothic cathedral and a recreated medieval village in
the town fair grounds below the castle. Landshut also celebrates Carnival
in February, the Strong Beer Festival in March, as well as a Christkindle
Christmas Market. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Burg
Trausnitz
Landshut
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See Also:
LANDSBERG
AM LECH ON THE ROMANTIC ROAD
SCHLEISSHEIM PALACES & BAROQUE GARDENS
MAD LUDWIG'S PLEASURE PALACE - LINDERHOF
SCHLOSS EGGERSBERG CASTLE HOTEL ALTMUHLTAL
SEEWIRT AT THUMSEE - SIGMUND FREUD
