Frankenstein's Castle



Frankenstein Castle is a hilltop castle located 5 km south of Darmstadt in Germany. Current claims about her influence on Mary Shelley's work remain controversial.

History
Before 1250, Lord Konrad II. Reiz von Breuberg built Frankenstein Castle and has since called himself von und zu Frankenstein. The first document in which there is evidence of the castle's existence in 1252 bears his name. He was the founder of the free imperial lordship of Frankenstein, which only responded to the jurisdiction of the emperor, with possessions in Nieder-Beerbach, Darmstadt, Ockstadt, Wetterau and Hesse. Additionally, the Frankenstein had other possessions and sovereign rights such as Burgrave in Zwingenberg (Auerbach (Bensheim)), in Darmstadt, Groß-Gerau, Frankfurt am Main and Bensheim. The hill on which the castle rests was probably occupied by another castle until the 11th century, which fell into ruins after the construction of Frankenstein Castle, a few hundred meters to the northwest. The claims about a previous castle are widespread, but historically it is somewhat unlikely. In 1292 the Frankensteins opened the castle to the counts of Katzenelnbogen and allied with them. In 1363, the castle was divided into two parts and given to two different families of the lords and knights of Frankenstein. At the beginning of the 15th century, the castle was enlarged and modernized. The Knights of Frankenstein became independent from the Earls of Katzenelnbogen again.

Being both great opponents of the reform and following the territorial conflicts, with disputes connected with the County of Hesse-Darmstadt, as well as its adherence to the Catholic faith and the associated "right of patronage", the head of the Lord Johannes family I. decided to sell the manor to the County of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1662, after several trials in the Court of the Imperial Chamber. The castle was later used as a refuge and as a hospital, remaining in ruins in the 18th century. Its two towers, which are its hallmark today, are historically incorrect restorations from the mid-19th century. Sometime before 1968, a restaurant was built inside the castle. In 1976, American soldiers stationed in Darmstadt founded an annual Halloween festival in the castle, which has grown to become one of the largest Halloween festivals in Europe.

In 1977, the 440 Communications Battalion organized a race to 13-kilometer walk along the steep paths from Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne to the castle. The Frankenstein Castle Run was held until 2008, when US forces left Darmstadt and the base was returned to the German government. The city of Darmstadt organized a final race in October 2008.

Owners

 * Frankenstein's Monster
 * Dr. Victor Frankenstein
 * Ygor