The Residence Museum of Schloß Neuhaus
The Residence Museum of Schloß Neuhaus (in german Residenzmuseum Schloß Neuhaus) is located inside the Neuhaus Castle, a Renaissance building from the 16th century. It shows the history and everyday culture of the prince-bishop's residence.
Actually part of the castle is used as a school, therefore only few rooms of the castle can be visited.
The museum is actually quite small and extends on two floors.
On the ground floor is the so-called Remter, a room from the 16th century vaulted over three large columns.
From 1800 the entire complex served as barracks for the Prussians. The 8th Hussars, a mounted regiment, moved into the castle and its outbuildings.
Original objects belonging to the soldiers illustrate this epoch. The village of Neuhaus, first mentioned more than 1000 years ago, is presented with portraits of influential citizens and their wives.
The castle garden is also represented by four figures that once adorned the baroque park (originally there where 12 statues, one for each month of the year).
Next to this room is a second, smaller circular room, where some of the objects found by Hans-Joachim Nachtmann can be seen.
According to the text on the wall
"OUT OF THE MOAT - EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE CASTLE. A glimpse of everyday life in the castle is offered by fragments from the castle moat, which Hans-Joachim Nachtmann has been salvaging in large quantities since 1980s. A chance discovery was the trigger for one of the largest finds in North Rhine-Westphalia, with almost 35,000 shards and fragments from broken plates, jugs and bowls, as well as tools, toys and building materials. They come predominantly from the kitchen, which bordered on the castle moat and from where waste was disposed. although the supply is patchy, and especially wood and fabric are missing, the findings nevertheless present a picture of life from the Middle Ages into the Modern Era. They are virtually the only legacy remaining from the castle's former occupants, as the Prussians auctioned off the extensive inventory in the early 19th century."
here some photos of the founded objects
and that's all for the first floor of the castle.
A staircase leads to the second floor.
The first room is called "The brine-bishop's art collection". According to the text on the wall
the walls of the castle's prestigious rooms ere richly adorned with paintings. Apart from portraits of price-bishops, allegorical portrayals and biblical pieces, landscapes dominated, among them, 62 local views of the diocese of Paderborn from carl Ferdinand Fabritius. They were commissioned in 1663/64 by Ferdinand von Fürstenberg. Embedded in an idyllic landscape, the paintings portray the richness and beauty of the region. At the same time, they were a testimony to the just rule of the princes. With the castle's takeover by the Prussian authorities in 1803, the paintings were transported to the attic of the former Jesuit University in Paderborn. Only six paintings were considered of art-historic value and these went to the Berlin Portrait Gallery.
Next is a small and circular room, called "The Marshall dining room".
The tower room served as a small dining room for lower-ranking members of the court, who had no access to the princely table. Built by Prince-Bishop Dietrich von Fürstenberg in 1591, the painted windows frames are fine examples of renaissance architecture. Individual examples could also be uncovered during restoration. The fireplace is ornamented with a scene from Greek mythology: Aktaion watches the Goddess Diana bathing and, as punishment, is transformed into a stag, which is then killed by dogs. Shortly after the accession of Prince-Bishop Clemens August in 1719, the renovation of the regency rooms by the painter Martin Pictorius of Muenster began. Two paintings show allegories of the Christian virtues of Love (pelican), Faith (key), as well as Hope (cornucopia). The inventory from 1793 lists two gaming tables, a tea table, as well as wall sconces and table lamps. The room was thus also used for the evening gaming entertainment. The wood panelling originates from the 18th century and is also a feature of the refurbished officers' mess.
then a small interlude room
leads to the dining room
now, unfortunately, completely empty :(
From here, we can have a nice view of the inside of the castle.
That's all.
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