The Old Castle (today address Mainstraße 23) is a former noble seat in Schwarzenau in the Lower Franconian district of Kitzingen. In the 16th century, another castle was built near the residence, the so-called New Castle.
The Old Castle was probably built in 1493. The medieval aristocratic residence was the core of the town that later came into the hands of the Counts of Henneberg. The Hennebergers later gave the village to several noble families. At the end of the 16th century, Valentin Echter von Mespelbrunn, the brother of Bishop Julius of Würzburg, came into possession of the Henneberg fief. He rebuilt the old castle, but also had the new castle built near the Laurentiuskirche.
Most recently, the lords of Erthal resided in the Old Castle, under whom the layout of the New Castle was created in its present form. The old castle lost its representative character in the 18th century and was converted into a rural estate. With its size, the castle was also an important meeting point for the village community in the 19th century. An inn was housed here for a long time, and a post office opened next to it in 1907. From 1920 to 1927 there was a police station. Today the former castle is owned by the Unbemach family.
Today, the Old Castle presents itself as an elongated, two-story gabled roof building and is classified as a monument. As a special feature, a large arched gate with stave decoration was installed on the Main side. Several outbuildings have been arranged around the main building, forming a rectangular courtyard. Towards the street, the building is structured by nine window axes. The double windows on the upper floor, which were designed with Gothic surrounds and central columns, give an indication of the great age of the building.
The façade is structured only by a stone eaves cornice. Corner pilaster strips made of regular square blocks were attached next to them. The colored version above the passage is more recent. In addition to the year 1493, an imaginative coat of arms (a slanting left bar, decorated with three golden stars) was painted on, which is crowned by an eagle as a crest. The facility was renewed in the 21st century.
Translated by Google •
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