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Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth today

Germany · Partial ruin

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth is the ruined remains of an imperial palace (Kaiserpfalz) near the town of Kaiserswerth in Germany. The site today preserves large stretches of ashlar and rubble curtain wall with rows of round-arched openings around a central courtyard. The surviving masonry shows dark volcanic stone with later red-brick repair work and abundant vegetation on the upper walls.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1170

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1170

What Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth looked like in its prime.

A roofless two-storey curtain of dark, roughly squared volcanic stone punctured by regular round-arched openings on both levels, with many arches trimmed or repaired in red brick. The façade forms one side of an open central courtyard that contains a low, rectangular paved platform edged in small basalt blocks. Masses of collapsed rubble, patched masonry and ivy cling to the wall tops; the left end has a deep recessed arched bay and the right shows the stump of a thicker projecting wall.

Its story

The story of Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth.

The Kaiserpfalz at Kaiserswerth, now a district of Düsseldorf, grew from a monastery founded by the Anglo-Saxon monk Suitbert around 700 AD, on a Rhine island given to him by Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plectrude. The site, its name derives from the Middle High German werth, "island of the emperor", developed into a fortified customs stronghold on the river.

Emperor Henry II gave Kaiserswerth and its castle to Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia after their reconciliation; Ezzo's son Otto returned the gift in 1045 in exchange for his appointment as Duke of Swabia by Henry III. The complex was never a permanent residence, Frederick Barbarossa is documented staying only once, on 22 April 1158, yet his 1184 inscription declares that "Emperor Frederick increased the empire with this ornament".

Otto IV held prominent prisoners here in 1214–15, among them Otto I, Count of Oldenburg, Prince-Bishop of Münster and partisan of Frederick II, whom Adolf VI of Berg five times tried and failed to free by attack "from the water". William II of Holland besieged the castle for a year in 1247, and the Treaty of Rastatt returned Kaiserswerth to the Electorate of Cologne in 1714. Long stretches of curtain wall with rows of round-arched openings still stand.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1170.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth, including 3 interiors: covered ground-floor arcades opening onto the courtyard, large recessed arched bay that housed a hall, service range and kitchen rooms adjacent to the arcade. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the forecourt to the arcaded curtain wallCentral paved platform in the courtyardCovered ground-floor arcades opening onto the courtyardUpper-level arcade and galleried walkwayLarge recessed arched bay that housed a hallProjected tower stump at the right end of the façadeWalk along the top of the curtain wall and battlementsService range and kitchen rooms adjacent to the arcade

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth.

Merkur Spiel-Arena, GermanyStadiumMerkur Spiel-Arena4 km awayArena AufSchalke, GermanyStadiumArena AufSchalke37 km away

Questions about Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth

What is the history of Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth grew from a monastery founded around 700 and later became a fortified customs stronghold on the Rhine. A castle was first mentioned in 1016, and Henry III expanded it into a royal palace shortly afterwards. Frederick Barbarossa transformed it into a major fortification from 1174; it was badly damaged in 1702 and restored from 1997 to 2001.

What is inside Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth contains covered ground-floor arcades, a large recessed arched bay that housed a hall, and adjacent service and kitchen rooms. The upper floor had representative and living rooms with brick-vaulted ceilings, while a monumental two-metre-wide main staircase connected the levels. A former banqueting hall had a large balcony facing the Rhine.

Why was Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth built, and what was it used for?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth was built and expanded as a fortified customs stronghold controlling Rhine trade. Henry III developed the earlier castle into a royal palace, and Frederick Barbarossa later moved the Rhine toll there in 1174 and expanded the site into a fortification. It was not designed as a permanent residence.

Where is Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth is in the Kaiserswerth district of Düsseldorf, on the Rhine. Kaiserswerth is now a district of Düsseldorf, making Düsseldorf the nearest recognised city associated with the ruin.

Was Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth ever attacked or besieged?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth was attacked and besieged several times. William II of Holland besieged it for a year in 1247, forcing its defenders to surrender, while Brandenburg, Dutch and English troops captured it on 15 June 1702 after a siege. Johann Wilhelm II then ordered the complex to be razed and blown up on 9 August 1702.

What did Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth look like in its prime?

In its prime, Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth was a three-storey palace with a central mighty keep, an entrance through the Klever Tower and a semi-circular enclosure wall. The surviving masonry used irregular dark basalt blocks from Drachenfels and tuff, with large bricks forming the round arches and vaults. The west front was about 50 metres wide and 14 metres high.

Is Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth still standing, or is it a ruin?

Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth is a partial ruin, although substantial sections remain standing. The six-metre-thick west front survives at about 50 metres wide and 14 metres high, while the northern and southern parts were restored from 1997 to 2001. No above-ground traces of the eastern half remain, and the keep was destroyed in 1702.

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