• de
• fr

Knight's castle - Gestelnburg english

Landmark of the von Turn
The landmark of the Barons von Turn was the as impenetrable deemed castle on the Feschti. Correspondingly to its power was this castle the most impressive site in the episcopal upper Valley. It is assumed that Peter IV. von Turn built the castle where the former watchtower had been; however, it is possible that Girold I. already built the castle

Location
Just the choice of the castle's location alone makes the Feschtiburg a model 13^th century chivalrous castle. There is not one ledge in the whole upper Valley equal to the one on which it was erected. In what seems like a sudden mood of nature, a rocky outcrop protrudes in this particular place from the valley's slope crosswise into the valley bottom.

The castle's construction
The original castle situated on the into the valley protruding ledge is presently preserved as a ruin. It was probably built in three construction stages, as can be presumed from the castles remaining wall segments.

- First stage, 12^th century
The elements on the top of the castle's hill - the round tower and the bastion - could originate from the 12^th century.

- Second stage, 13^th century
The impressive barons' keeps that belongs to the second defensive section was probably erected in the 13^th century. It runs over the whole width of the shelf and has a base of 40 x 13 meters (131 x 43 feet). The castle's walls are in some places 3 meters (10 feet) thick. A winding path leads up into the castle grounds, which can be accessed via a comfortable ramp as well.

- Third stage
The buildings situated farther down the hill, probably servants' lodgings, accommodations, and farms, as well as the cistern “rote Wiichüefa”, have probably been added to the complex later on. They are located within the third defensive disposition, that, contrarily to the second one, had been equipped with weaker defensive walls.