Pappenheim castle was started around 950, the keep being the first main structure. This was followed about 100 years later with the primary ring wall that was 3.5 meters thick. The tower is 30 meters high and provides an excellent view of the entire area. Reconstruction work on the site found some interesting artifacts, including a tablet that described construction work in 1494 and a stone angle holding the family coat of arms dating from the 1580s.
These photos were taken in 2005.
Right, statue of Heinrich von Pappenheim located in the town of Pappenheim.
The Marshals of Pappenheim had their status as holders of the land around the town confirmed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1334. Typically the leading family members were called "Haupt" and this could lead to some confusion as to who was whom in the family. By the 1620s, the town and region was elevated to count status, with the family being close allies of the Elector of Bavaria. The Count von Pappenheim, Heinrich (1594-1632) by name (pictured above) became the scion of the house. Emboldened by legends that a member of the family would stop a great invader, Heinrich saw himself as the one to turn back the Swedish incursion during the Thirty Years War.
Heinrich von Pappenheim was a great cavalry rider and leader, and he worked with the Imperial army under Count Tilly. At Breitenfeld in 1631, Pappenheim's aggressiveness forced Tilly to fight in a battle that was a resounding Swedish victory. A year later, now working with Albrecht von Wallenstein, Heinrich arrived late on the battlefield of Lutzen where he was hit by a musket ball and bled to death in his coach.
The town and castle fell to Swedes 1633, but saw a revival with the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648. The French tried to take the castle in 1703 but failed; they succeeded a year later. After this, the castle was neglected and in 1830 the main palace collapsed from decay. Recent restoration work has protected much of the structure from any further decay.
Left, some of the outer walls of the castle, demonstrating how protected this site was.
Right, a view of some of the outer wall with the keep in the background.
Below, part of the entrance to the inner ward.
The photo at right shows clearly how the castle was interlocked with the defensive structure of the town.
