Castle of the Week 71 - Vianden
Le Chateau de Vianden (or Vianden
Castle) in Luxembourg is situated on a rocky spur overlooking the
Our Valley in a spectacular situation. There has been a castle
there since Roman times but the one that can now be seen has been
restored to its 18th century glory.
Much archaeological work has taken place in the
castle and traces of a 4th century Roman fortification have been
found. There was a tower about 10.5m high at the southern end of
the spur with two walls extending from it following the contours
of the hill. The northern end of the rock was protected by a deep
ditch cut in the rock. Despite much digging, nothing has been
found of what was inside the walls. Towards the middle of the 5th
century it is known that most of the castle was destroyed by
fire.
During the early middle ages the Roman fortifications were extended behind a wooden pallisade. The castle protected the valley below from Norman invasions but was also used in an administrative capacity as the centre for tax collecting.
From the 11th to the 13th century
much building took place under the stewardship of the Counts of
Vianden. A palace, a keep, a magnificent new chapel to replace
one in the Roman tower, towers, a grand gateway and massive stone
walls were all added. The courtyard below the top of the spur was
enclosed by walls too.
In the middle of the 13th century, Count Henry I
transformed the buildings into the gothic style with the addition
of stepped gables and high gothic roofs. The castle was luxurious
as befitted the powerful Counts of Vianden who wanted to show
that they were at least the equals of the Counts of Luxembourg,
their closest rivals. The town beneath the castle was the capital
of Vianden county, an area the same size as present-day
Luxembourg. It was fortified whilst being dominated and protected
by the castle and was known for its artists and craftsmen.
This was the high point for the Castle. By the
end of the 13th century, sovereignty had passed to the Counts of
Luxembourg and its importance began to wane. In 1417 the last of
the line died, and ownership passed to the House of Nassau (which
in 1530 was joined to the principality of Orange). The castle was
only of minor importance to them and was no longer lived in. By
the beginning of the 15th century most of the grand buildings
were being used for storage and the fortunes of the town
similarly started to decline.
In 1794, the French, who were occupying
Luxembourg, abolished the county of Vianden. Most of the former
county was surrendered to Prussia at the Congress of Vienna in
1815 and the rest to William I, King of the Netherlands and Grand
Duke of Luxembourg. He sold the castle to the highest bidder and
so in August 1820 it was bought by a merchant from the town,
Wenceslas Coster, who dismantled and sold much of the building
materials particularly the wooden beams holding up the roofs and
the lead and copper of the roofs themselves. William I tried to
calm the inhabitants by buying back what was left but by that
stage it wasn’t much.
In 1977 it was bequeathed to the state as a pile
of rubble and has been fully restored to its 18th century
appearance. The restored halls have exhibitions of weapons and
suits of armour, archaelogical finds and pictures and once again
the Chateau Vianden looks down on the medieval town at its
foot.
Write-up provided by GillB* . Pictures courtesy of Jayhawk* .