DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8058#0060
54
this tower, amounting- to 10 —- 20 feet, renders it probable great
fear prevailed at that time of the balls fired from falconets and
pieces of ordonnance, whilst, on the other hand, we may suppose
that no missile arms were then in use, from which bowshots could
be discharged, all towers of that period having been destitute of
a strong protection at the top, being covered only w ith a slight roof.
In 1603, Lewis V, caused the arched vault of the souterrain
to be supported by a column, stone arches resting on a stone co-
lumn, to be substituted in the room of the timbers, whilst he also
ordered the roof to be taken down and the present superstruction
to be added, together with an open gallery, which, by means of
abridge, communicated with the cornloft and the ancient kitchen
of the court. The iron ring in the vaults served for suspending
the falconets, and the apertures at the top of them for giving vent
to the smoke of the gunpowder. The passage for the conduit and
that which put the souterrain in communication with the castle,
are still to be seen in the former.
In the Orleans - war, in 1689, this tower was undermined
and blown-up by the French, on which occasion the large frag-
ment, which still is preserved entire, and constitutes one of the
finest parties of the ruins of the castle, was separated. There are also
numerous traces of destruction to be discovered in the souterrain.
In 1804, Mr, Gatterer, supreme counsellor of forests, caused
wooden steps to be put up in this tower, by which one at present
may ascend in it.
An interesting phenomenon are the numerous sapplings sprung
up from the seeds of the large tree of lingnum vitae in the garden,
which are growing upon this detached fragment.
In earlier times this tower bore the different denominations of
the herb - apothecary's - and gunpowder - tower, I cannot take
upon myself to degide which of them was the original one.
48. The thick ivall of the castle (Tab. IX, XI.),
is bounded by the big and square towers, and was built against
the mount, towards the south, at different periods, for the se-
curity of the castle. The original foundation, which at the side
facing the castle, is distinguished by the smallness of the stones of
which the wall is composed, and of the apertures of the windows;
formed formerly the outermost wall and communicated with
the ancient gate of the castle, as also, on the spot, where at
present the blown-up tower is situated, by means of a small
round tower, with the eastern wall of the castle and the case-
mate with the conduit. It is very ancient and coeval with the
original foundation of the castle. Lewis V., intending to fortify
the castle very solidly, when enlarging the fosse of it, also
caused the ancient wall to be raised, enlarged and lined with
freestones , like the other fortifications. Death prevented this prince
from finishing this wall, which was completed by his brother and
successor, Frederic II., who, in 1545*), caused a superstruction
wilh a pointed roof to be erected upon it. By means of a wooden
gallery and a door opening into the square tower, this wall of de-
fence, which had a parapet at the top, communicated with the other
fortifications and buildings.
In 1689, a large piece of the wall fined with freestone, was
blown off by the French, the roof destroyed by fire and for the
most part reduced to its present condition.
Having said thus much of this wall, I have nearly finished
the description of the .castle; let us then return by the bridge to
the front of the bridgehouse in the garden, in order to take a view
of the fosse and the northern and eastern outworks, as well as of
the garden of the castle. But should any one prefer seeing the
garden first, he may pass over the description of the castle to 67,
*) Vid. the slab with the date of 1545.
this tower, amounting- to 10 —- 20 feet, renders it probable great
fear prevailed at that time of the balls fired from falconets and
pieces of ordonnance, whilst, on the other hand, we may suppose
that no missile arms were then in use, from which bowshots could
be discharged, all towers of that period having been destitute of
a strong protection at the top, being covered only w ith a slight roof.
In 1603, Lewis V, caused the arched vault of the souterrain
to be supported by a column, stone arches resting on a stone co-
lumn, to be substituted in the room of the timbers, whilst he also
ordered the roof to be taken down and the present superstruction
to be added, together with an open gallery, which, by means of
abridge, communicated with the cornloft and the ancient kitchen
of the court. The iron ring in the vaults served for suspending
the falconets, and the apertures at the top of them for giving vent
to the smoke of the gunpowder. The passage for the conduit and
that which put the souterrain in communication with the castle,
are still to be seen in the former.
In the Orleans - war, in 1689, this tower was undermined
and blown-up by the French, on which occasion the large frag-
ment, which still is preserved entire, and constitutes one of the
finest parties of the ruins of the castle, was separated. There are also
numerous traces of destruction to be discovered in the souterrain.
In 1804, Mr, Gatterer, supreme counsellor of forests, caused
wooden steps to be put up in this tower, by which one at present
may ascend in it.
An interesting phenomenon are the numerous sapplings sprung
up from the seeds of the large tree of lingnum vitae in the garden,
which are growing upon this detached fragment.
In earlier times this tower bore the different denominations of
the herb - apothecary's - and gunpowder - tower, I cannot take
upon myself to degide which of them was the original one.
48. The thick ivall of the castle (Tab. IX, XI.),
is bounded by the big and square towers, and was built against
the mount, towards the south, at different periods, for the se-
curity of the castle. The original foundation, which at the side
facing the castle, is distinguished by the smallness of the stones of
which the wall is composed, and of the apertures of the windows;
formed formerly the outermost wall and communicated with
the ancient gate of the castle, as also, on the spot, where at
present the blown-up tower is situated, by means of a small
round tower, with the eastern wall of the castle and the case-
mate with the conduit. It is very ancient and coeval with the
original foundation of the castle. Lewis V., intending to fortify
the castle very solidly, when enlarging the fosse of it, also
caused the ancient wall to be raised, enlarged and lined with
freestones , like the other fortifications. Death prevented this prince
from finishing this wall, which was completed by his brother and
successor, Frederic II., who, in 1545*), caused a superstruction
wilh a pointed roof to be erected upon it. By means of a wooden
gallery and a door opening into the square tower, this wall of de-
fence, which had a parapet at the top, communicated with the other
fortifications and buildings.
In 1689, a large piece of the wall fined with freestone, was
blown off by the French, the roof destroyed by fire and for the
most part reduced to its present condition.
Having said thus much of this wall, I have nearly finished
the description of the .castle; let us then return by the bridge to
the front of the bridgehouse in the garden, in order to take a view
of the fosse and the northern and eastern outworks, as well as of
the garden of the castle. But should any one prefer seeing the
garden first, he may pass over the description of the castle to 67,
*) Vid. the slab with the date of 1545.