Treasures of the Black Forest. (31 photos) Bashny.Net

Not far from the town of Hechingen (Hechingen, Baden-Wurttemberg) at high (855 m) rises a hill Burg Hohenzollern - Generic Castle House of Hohenzollern - Electors of Brandenburg dynasty (1415-1701), the King of Prussia (1701-1918) and the German Emperor (1871-1918 ).

Hohenzollern are its origins from the Franconian branch of the Swabian ducal kind - Nuremberg Burgrave Friedrich VI in 1415 was in the county of Brandenburg, became the name of Frederick I the founder of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Later, the genus is divided into two branches, one of which laid the foundation for the dynasty of the Brandenburg electors, and then the German kings and emperors, while the second branch remained in Swabia, then went down to Vyurtemburgskoe duchy and kingdom. Their family nest and still considered not famous palace of Sanssouci, near Berlin, and this is the Burg Hohenzollern. And to this day all the important family issues by representatives of the Royal House decided at the general meeting in these walls.

Castle, repeating the circuit mountains, so fits in a landscape that seems to be an integral part of it. It is simply amazing, and no less grandiose opening top views.

During his long, almost a thousand years of history of the castle was rebuilt three times since the first structure there are only written evidence of its existence - he was simply razed to the ground. Second, the construction of which was begun in 1454, was badly damaged during the 30-year war in 1634, and lay in ruins until the early 19th century.

The idea of restoring the castle belonged to the then crown prince, the future King Frederick William IV, he visited these places in 1819. Construction work started in 1842 and completed in 1867, the grand opening of a new castle was held October 3, 1867 is already under William I.

The modern view of the castle - is the work of Berlin architect Friedrich August Shtyulera. The impressive entrance facilities designed engineering officer Moritz Karl Ernst von Prittvits, which was then considered the leading architect-designer of the Prussian fortresses.

Goentsollern Castle is an example of romantic expression of the spirit of that time and the then embodies idea of the perfect medieval knight's castle.

During the earthquake of September 1978 Castle 3 was badly damaged, restoration work was carried out until the early 1990s.

After the restoration of the 19th century, the castle was used only as a representative of peace and was not living.

Only the last Prussian Crown Prince Wilhelm lived here a few months after his flight from Potsdam in late 1945.

Wilhelm and his wife, Crown Princess Cecilie, and are buried here.

Since 1952 the collection of the castle enlarged artwork, souvenirs and memorabilia belonging to former Prussian royal family: it is here now stored Crown the King of Prussia, as well as uniforms of Frederick II the Great - uniform pierced by a bullet and his own Frederick darned, and close crumpled this same bullet silver snuffbox , saved the life of the king.

Incidentally, a few years ago, the Crown was stolen from the store, some circus has managed to climb up the steep cliff and the castle wall and got into the vault. As it turns out, the thief did not know whom he robbed.

When Hohenzollern published in German newspapers polite request to return the relic and promised not to pursue the thief, who came to the castle surrendered, returned the "showpiece" for a long time apologizing for their ignorance. Hohenzollern kept their word: acrobat released and even paid him compensation.

Hohenzollern Castle is still privately owned. He now belongs to both branches of the House of Hohenzollern (Brandenburg-Prussian lines and Swabian). In addition, from 1954 part of the premises of the castle given to fund the Princess Kira as a summer residence for the summer holidays for the needy children of Berlin.

The brightest representatives of the dynasty were: Friedrich Wilhelm (Elector in 1640-88), Frederick III (ruled 1688-1713, from 1701 the Prussian King Frederick I), Frederick II (the king in 1740-86), Frederick William III (King in 1797 -1840), Frederick William IV (King in 1840-61), William I (Prussian king in 1861-88 and in 1871-88 the German emperor), Wilhelm II (emperor 1888-1918, dethroned by the revolution of November 1918) . Their bronze figures, and the figures of their royal ancestors and descendants covered with a greenish patina, reminiscent of the great deeds of the monarchs.