A forgotten treasure: Historical book returns to Gelnhausen!

A forgotten treasure: Historical book returns to Gelnhausen!

A special piece of history recently returned to Gelnhausen. The city's old mayor has tried to save a valuable book that impresses with its rarity and historical value. It is the 2nd edition from 1832 of the work “Emperor Frederick I. Barbarossa's Palace in Gelnhausen Castle” by Bernhard Hundeshagen, which was discovered in an antiquarian bookstore in December 2024. Although the volume was badly damaged, its value for Gelnhausen and Romanesque architecture remains invaluable. This is reported by the GNZ.

In his work, Bernhard Hundeshagen describes not only the architectural details of the imposing palace, but also the historical context in which Emperor Friedrich I resided. The book is considered one of the earliest scientific documentation of medieval architecture in Germany, which has been recognized as important since 1812. Interestingly, a subscription list shows that even well-known personalities such as the Brothers Grimm and romantic poets pre-ordered. Hundeshagen dedicated his work to Grand Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and thus contributed to the development of the Romanesque period.

The Imperial Palace in Gelnhausen

The Imperial Palace, also known as Barbarossa Castle, was founded in 1170 by Emperor Frederick I and served to expand the imperial possessions in the Wetterau and to secure the Via Regia, an important trade route between Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig. The Palatinate is considered to be the best-preserved complex of the Hohenstaufen period, with impressive original buildings. Thanks to its historical significance, Gelnhausen remains closely linked to the Palatinate.

The Palatinate lies on an island of the Kinzig, surrounded by a polygonal plan, and was secured from enemies by a moat and three bridges. In any case, the construction shows that over 60 stonemasons worked on the project, although usually only 10 to 20 were active at the same time. The highlight of the Palatinate's history was the great court day in 1180, at which important political decisions were made.

The decay and the rediscovery

However, the Palatinate experienced a significant decline over the centuries. After the end of the 13th century and severe damage in the Thirty Years' War in 1634, the loss of importance was clearly noticeable. From the middle of the 19th century, the Imperial Palace was finally recognized as a historical building and protective measures were taken to prevent further deterioration. Although much of the once magnificent complex no longer exists, remains such as the palace, the gate tower and the gate hall have been preserved. Experts emphasize that the architecture of the Gelnhausen-Palatinate is one of the most artistically sophisticated among the German Staufenburgs and features ornamentation such as the cloverleaf arch portal.

The return of Hundeshagen's work is not only a pleasant find for book lovers, but also an important step towards the revitalization and appreciation of Gelnhausen's history. The restoration work by the expert Andrea Linnenbröker has shown that even damaged historical treasures can be brought back to life with care and love. In this way, the connection between the Imperial Palace and the city of Gelnhausen will continue to be kept alive. Anyone interested in the rich history of the Imperial Palace can visit the website of State palaces and gardens of Hesse inform.