 Asperg, the floor plan
Highlights from the Hohenasperg history:
Neolithic (agriculture related) finds since roughly 6000 B.C. The Hohenasperg was the center of a Celtic warrior clan in the 6th century B.C. Late Hallstatt, early LaTene time. And God made iron. Best known fact, the two tier funeral system. Small barrows in extended cemeteries for the rank and file, elf hills for the nobility. Half a dozen large funeral mounds surround the Hohenasperg. Some still visible from the fortress (high place Gregovia locations were apparently preferred). The Hochdorf hill is however a recent reconstruction. A subsequent Roman occupation is not reported.
Historic period:
The Asperg was bought by count Eberhard I in 1308. Particular land grabbing strategy: by hook and by crook. It was promptly lost again in 1312 in a coalition war with changing alliances. The free townships of the region, far and foremost Esslingen, did not make Eberhard's life any easier. The latter had razed Eberhard...
|  Asperg, Durer
The Frundsberg siege of 1519. The drawing is by no less than Albrecht Dürer. It takes all kinds of war correspondents. Some slight perspective errors. The cross fire from the batteries to the right would hit the own assault troops.
|  Asperg, first impressions
railway station view
|  Asperg, Hügelsburg
No topographic tag but named so after Andreas v.Hügel, the late 18th century garrison commander.
|  Asperg, Hügelsburg
|
 Asperg, Hügelsburg
Memorial stone. Boebel, a musketeer by profession, 121 reg(iment), did fall to death at this spot, Date: 24th Feb of (17)78 and break his neck. One note the Y2K notation, always give the small numbers, never the century. We all live in a mantissa world.
|  Asperg, Hügelsburg
Heraldic parapet intaglio. The sloped lettering is recent. Standing guard on this open of the walls was probably not terribly exciting.
|  Asperg, Schubart Turm
The Schubart tower. Looks more like a handy tower.
The Hohenasperg had two celebrity inmates: Joseph Süß Oppenheimer, de facto minister of commerce and fianace, who fell out of favor after the unexpect death of Karl Alexander (martial ambitions on end). Best possible interpretation: the regency government which took over after the death of Duke Alexander in 1737 wanted a clean break with the past. The outcome is well known. Carl Eugen had the iron cage removed when he took over.
I know little of Schubart, who's fate may have haunted Schiller. Schubart's mocking of Carl Eugen's more permanent lady escort service was somewhat crass. As for Schiller, his Calvin and Rousseau inspired destiny and fate ideas would probably have been tolerated. His more Freudian (Stephen King type) poems might even have flattered the vanity of the autocratic Carl Eugen. Golem type church bells playing catch-the-cap with wayward souls. Background: Schiller was a sho...
|  Asperg, quiet corner
Cosmas with barbed wire
|  Asperg, quiet corner
Cosmas, testing my night vision goggles
|
 Asperg, surveillance mast
The black box houses a halogen light. A Klieg light by any other set name. Enhanced tungsten filament technology. The weather shielding the same as for the smaller version which is sold in builder supply markets. Intended primary use: Driveway and garden fountain illumination.
|  Asperg, surveillance mast
|  Asperg, concertino wire
Close proximity with the ground wire of the lightning rod makes me suspect that the barbed concertino wire (solenoid) is not electrified. The latter could in fact do double duty as lightning rod.
|  Asperg, perimeter walk
not a good color for a getaway car
|  Asperg, perimeter walk
'Château d'If' and 'château de lierre' ('yew' and 'ivy' respectively). Always important to keep things apart.
|
 Asperg, perimeter walk
|  Asperg, perimeter walk
pigeon usurped loophole
|  Asperg, interior moat wall
hard to tell where the natural rock ends and where the masonry starts
|  Asperg, Pfaffenturm
patched up embrasure
|  Asperg, Pfaffenturm
Tentatively: tower of the freeloading priest.
|
 Asperg, Pfaffenturm
Two piece embrasure with relief arch. The load bearing top half noticeably thicker.
|  Asperg, Pulverturm
Off limits to pachyderms. The cracked wall should be warning enough. Variant tag: silent picketing.
|  Asperg, Pulverturm
|  Asperg, Pulverturm
Powder keg tower. Rather remarkable that it still stands. Were all those night guards non smokers.
|  Asperg, Pulverturm
|
 Asperg, Pulverturm
U shaped rather than round
|  Asperg, moat and outer gate
Should look somewhat less bleak in sunshine. - The actual color distribution is traffic light controlled. It will switch to ivy green any moment now.
|  Asperg, main gate
the ghost of a draw bridge
|  Asperg, inner gate
This Renaissance tower (campanile second class) was added by Ulrich. The upgrading of fortresses was one of his chief preoccupations. For once justified.
|  Asperg, inner gate
a basic, Thurn & Taxis colored sundial
|
 Asperg, inner gate
Capital with a two tailed mermaid. Once you notice her you can spot her everywhere. The motive did migrate. In the 17th century it can be found in support legs for tiled stoves. Somewhat akin to zoomorphic bath tub legs. The latter however exclusive lion paw territory. Particular support leg etiquette unclear. The snaggle toothed face in the acanthus leaves looks somewhat like the Inca version of a Gorgon.
Links:
>pair of mermaids holding a congenial pretzel
>the diademed mermaid of the Residenzschloss in Urach
|  Asperg, inner gate
The gate is one way traffic only. Not sure if future archaeologists will be able to figure out the purpose of the meandering wall crevice once the artfully trained traffic light cable had been removed. It takes all kinds of magic marble slides.
|  Asperg, inner gate
Missing plaque. It is quite some time since wooden pegs did fall out of fashion.
|  Asperg, warehouse
|  Asperg, warehouse
"Penal hospital". The official plaque. - Some would claim that Ulrich, who put his stamp on the whole fortification, the 'reconquest' building boom of 1535, would also have made a first rate inmate. Padded cell section. (There never was an Ulrich II. All previous Ulrichs were earls.) - The particular building which shows the plaque served originally as warehouse for the garrison. Some form of tithe barn.
|
 Asperg, the gate behind the gate
'All hope abandon ye who enter here'. Upbeat view: Backdoor to National Health Care services. Including reconstructive dentistry. Neutral: An ambulance entrance of sorts. Lower clearance than the porte-cochère of yore. Would describe the style, the small color squares, as harlequin camouflage.
|  Asperg, lion gate
Lion gate, outer perimeter. Original from 1675 under duke Wilhelm Ludwig. Renovated in 1974. A sunken access way, once roofed, leads to the drawbridge.
|  Asperg, lion gate
For once no Celtic funeral monument. Just a cleverly disguised water tower. Turn of the 20th century. The old well house was in the vicinity.
|  Asperg, access way
the sunken access way
|  Asperg, access way
Nightfall, even an artificial one, will hardly spoil anything.
|
