he
first dateable traces of a stronghold on the mound of Montclair date from
the time between AD 300 to 500. The structure consisted of an area which
was surrounded by a wall and a ditch somewhat in front. The rather meagre
finds of pottery lead to the conclusion that this was a Celtic stronghold
only to be used in times of emergency. The structure has been burnt to the
ground during an attack.
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Celtic stronghold
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Skiva
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mound was also inhabited in Roman times (25 BC to AD 476) and in Merowingian
times (AD 480 - 720) and sheltered the population from attacks. Presumably
already by the 9th century Skiva Castle was built 350 m to the east of the
contemporary ruin of Montclair Castle.
kiva
was converted from an originally Franconian farmstead into a mound castle
("Turmhügelburg"). By digging the oval ditch, the earth was
piled up on the mound, on which possibly stood a wooden tower with massive
stone foundations. Towards the northwest, the outer bailey with working
quarters followed. In 1016, Skiva was completely destroyed by Archbishop
Poppo of Trier during the feud by the river Mosel.
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Montclair Castle today
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Plan of the mound
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enormous strategic importance of the mound is confirmed in the fact that
just a little bit later a new castle was built about 400 m to the west
of Skiva.
Old Montclair Castle was first mentioned in documents between the years 1169 and 1183. In 1190, the name "Munkler" or "Montclair" appeared for the first time - today it is called "Old Montclair Castle" to distinguish it from the younger structure.
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top view gives an impression of the extension of the castle.  |
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Ground plan of Old Montclair
Castle
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1. ditch across the mountain ridge ("Halsgraben") 2. outwork ("Vorburg") 3. castle ("Kernburg") 4. flat ground 5. defence works 6. defence ditch ("Verteidigungsgraben")
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Montclair Castle counts among the most impressive medieval castles in Germany.
It was a Romanesque mound castle ("Höhenburg"), typical in
these times. The area of the castle had a length of 450 m with an outwork
to the east, the castle itself and the western defence structures somewhat
in front. The three sections were separated by ditches across the mountain
ridge ("Halsgräben").
Remains of the walls of Old Montclair Castle |
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castle itself consisted of a keep, a couple of defence towers, a chapel,
a residence, stables and barns. The finds dating from these times give evidence
of the rich Romanesque arrangement of the castle. Though it was thought
to be impregnable, it was razed after a siege in 1351.
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1439, a new castle was erected on the mound above the Saar Bend. But its
extensions were much more modest than those of the former castle. New Montclair Castle had a trapeziform ground plan, with two smaller flanking towers ("Schalentürme") at the corners to the west and two round towers ("Rondelle") at the main front to the east. Each of these two towers had four floors, which had at the same time defence, living and working purposes. Quite extraordinary are the stair towers, which flank the two round towers
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New Montclair Castle, view of
the southside
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Ground plan of New Montclair
Castle
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Ascent to the Castle
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etween the round towers,
there was the gate house, consisting of the gate hall, a roofed fighting
platform and the wall walk between the two stair towers of the round towers.
To the west, a building with working quarters stood between the two flanking
towers; its back wall was part of the fortified outer wall which enclosed
the almost rectangular bailey. In front of the round towers, a moat was
supposed to keep the enemies away from the castle. A drawbridge spanned
the moat. To the east of the bridge, a small barbican was built to protect
it.
The sister-castle of Montclair was Meinsberg Castle at Manderen in Lorraine,
built at the same time and in a similar way. The builder of both castles,
Arnold VI of Sierck, preferred Meinsberg as his place of residence. Montclair
Castle was also never inhabited by his successors and dilapidated after
the death of its last owner, Henry Count of Sayn.