The architecture of European cultural monuments is largely a result of the mixing of epochs and the prevailing in them notions of aesthetics. A good example is the Hohenzollern castle. The life of this unique castle exceeds 8 centuries. The changes made by the owners in the external appearance of the building were of a global nature, because in the end the castle is a mix of medieval architecture and the neo-romanticism that replaced it. It is quite a standard phenomenon for European castles, in particular, for Germany. Hohenzollern is recognized as a unique castle. So what is its peculiarity?
A bit of history
Castle Hohenzollern arose on the map of Germany in the XI century. To be more precise, then it was not a castle at all, but a military fortress. In the XV century, the Hohenzollers family erects a second castle: a time of difficult, constant wars, civil strife, and just every day waiting for a dirty trick from all sides. And the final version, the third castle, appeared only in the XIX century, with the direct participation of the King of Prussia, Frederick William IV.
The very first mention of the Castle, then the "house of Hohenzollern" - 1601. In the thirteenth century chronicles speak of the Hohenzollern as a castle complex. The chroniclers of that time call it the best of the castles of Swabia. Hohenzollern in this form, alas, has not lived to our time - in 1423 it was completely destroyed as a result of internecine wars. What was then the best castle in Swabia, we are unlikely to find out.
In 1454 the building was rebuilt, but in the XVIII century it remains "orphaned", resulting in a decline. The history of the castle could end there. In this case today, tourists would visit the remains of the former luxury, photographed against the background of gloomy ruins and surviving walls.
As is usually the case in history, at the right time, a monarch appears on the historical arena, puzzled by monumental construction. Such rulers periodically appeared in different parts of the world in completely different periods of government. Strictly speaking, without some of them, the world architecture would not be able to move to a new stage of development, and, quite probably, we would still live without arches or domes. As for the new monarch, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he was notable for love not only for architecture, but for romance. It was Wilhelm IV who breathed life into the German Hohenzollern, turning it from an object of defense into an architectural value. Such locks are painted by small children in pictures: spiked spiers of towers, crenellated walls, numerous passages. Castle-city, towering on unassailable mountain. The castle is a fairy tale, a rebellious adaptation of mystical stories about medieval knights, dragons, wise wizards and beautiful princesses. Dream come true.
Excursions
The hill, where the castle Hohenzollern, is of the same name, is located at an altitude of 900 meters above the Zollern River. In principle, the name of the castle indicates its geographical location near the corresponding river.
The castle complex is a grandiose building, where all 140 rooms are open to tourists, including a unique library, the King's Salon, the Queen's Salon. The Royal Treasury is also open, where, among other exhibits, tourists can see the real crown of Kaiser Wilhelm II. In September, tourists can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a medieval castle, taking part in falconry. In August, the Hohenzollern Hill lights up with the light of fireworks. Tourists who came to the castle in the summer can also enjoy performances of Shakespeare's plays that take place in the summer theater.