Burg und Burgpark Gamburg
Gamburg Castle, situated on the Romantic Road and overviewing the Tauber, is a cultural heritage of Europan importance. In the 12th century it was a fiefdom of the archbishop of Mainz and the residence of the noble familiy of Gamburg. The originally Romanesque palace is one of the most exceptional of the High Midle Ages in Germany. Its Great Hall houses the oldest secular wall paintings north of the Alps (before 1219). They are the only remaining original paintings of a medieval Great Hall and show large and artistically exceptional scenes of the crusade of the Emperor Barbarossa and among other things one of the earliest German inscriptions. They have have been discovered along with lavishly decorated Romanesque double arches. The hall itself even had a medieval floor heating system. Since 2001 Gamburg Castle is listed as national monument. During the German Peasants' War, the imposing castle was one of the few to remain unscathed thanks to the intervention of the famous knight Gotz von Berlichingen. It has been a private property of noble families since 1546. Its oldest part, the keep, was termporarily used as a water reservoir for the gardens and was transformed into bunker to store the files concerning communist resistance groups during World War II. The baroque park, laid out an artifical terrace and with „the nymph's fountain“ in its centre is an integral part of the castle and as such almost unique in Germany. It has been restored according to old plans with botanic rarities of the time. In season, the cafe in the castle's courtyard, adorned with statues and filled with splendid fragrances, exudes a Mediterranean flair with its palms and other exotic plants. The chapel and the armorial room are used for marriages. Parts of the site can also be rented for conferences, festivities etc. The shop is located in the old lavoir. The castle is supposed to be hauted by over 21 ghosts and is connected with ancient tales about the beautiful mermaid Melusine. Today the noble family von Mallinckrodt supports the preservation, study and vital continuity of Gamburg Castle. Permanent tours are offered during the opening hours on every weekend and holiday between April and November. Beyond those times tours are also possible by appointment. There are also numerous events and courses in the castle and its gardens.
