Location Godesburg

the castle depicted on church stained glass window circa 1500, believed surviving detailed picture of castle looked before destruction.



the destruction of godesburg in 1583; attackers used explosives breach walls



1646 engraving of godesberg hill , godesburg castle might have appeared before castle s destruction

the site has controversial history. growing out of nineteenth-century heimat movement, historians speculated in pre-christian era, inhabitants used peak call god wotan, god of war, death , hunt, , other attributes, establishing custom led erection of house of prayer on site. found mention of site in 9th century documents, , again in 12th century, documents continue refer gotensberg, or gotensperg. first mentioned in documents 8th century, supposedly built on old cult site , name derived old germanic wotansberg, woudensberg, or gotansberg. in 10th century, documents reign of otto in 927, , otto ii in 974, suggested religious community had been located on mountain peak, name gottesberg. speculation, idea emerged fort established on ancient cult site.