November 27th, 2013
Castle del Monte (Castel del Monte) stands alone on the secluded hill of Western Murge in the desert area of \u200b\u200bAndria, province of Bari, at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. The castle complex received its modern name only at the end of the 15th century, the original name has not survived. The castle was named Castel del Monte in honor of the ancient settlement of the same name at the foot of the hill, on which there was a small monastery of Santa Maria del Monte. Often locals The Andrians call it "The Crown of Apulia".
The Middle Ages is a huge historical period associated with large-scale events and significant changes in all spheres of life, both individual states and entire nations of Europe and Asia. This is the time of the fall of the Roman Empire and the subsequent Great Migration of Peoples, which in the future, over the course of many centuries, will serve as a fertile ground for the emergence of countless cultural, linguistic and religious conflicts between the Germanic and Romanic peoples who previously lived on the territory of the once united empire. The "Dark Ages", as the famous Italian poet Petrarch will reasonably call this era, despite the global upheavals, without which no civilization has ever lived in its history, will become a time of great transformations.
As never before, the Church in the person of the Pope will acquire unprecedented power and power, which will have to be reckoned with for everyone, from the inhabitants of remote settlements and residents of enlightened cities to monarchs and kings. This is the time of the heyday of the ideals of monasticism and the unlimited power of the Inquisition, which sows the same horror in the souls of both inveterate heretics and the most devout parishioners. The time of chivalry and incessant clashes, when Christians shed each other's blood in constant internecine wars, and the time of the Great Crusades, when the blood of Muslims and crusaders was not less shed on the battlefields in the struggle for holy Jerusalem. 
Of course, to get even an approximate idea of \u200b\u200bthe Middle Ages, which took almost nine centuries in the history of mankind, you will need to get acquainted with much more extensive information. But even the mention of these several significant events allows you to get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe time and conditions in which the largely mysterious and in its own way unique Castel del Monte was built. And in order to better understand the features of the architecture of the castle or its true purpose, and perhaps try to find clues to some of the secrets that are generously shrouded in Castel del Monte, you should pay attention to the direct owner of the castle, whose personality seems to be just as colorful how contradictory.
Much can be said about this man, whose lust for power and cruelty knew no boundaries, but the mention of only one fact from his stormy life gives a very clear and vivid idea of \u200b\u200bthe ambiguous nature and disposition of this person. So, never harboring deep religious feelings and in every possible way delaying his participation in the next Crusade, this man still managed to achieve the seemingly impossible - to be excommunicated from the church and, despite the papal anathema, to win the Crusade and return to the Christian world Jerusalem. We are talking about none other than the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the ruler of Germany, King of Sicily and Jerusalem, Frederick II Hohenstaufen.
The construction of the castle is mentioned only in one document that has survived to this day. It is dated January 29, 1240 and it states that the Holy Roman Emperor empire Frederick II Staufen ( german Friedrich II von Hohenstaufen)orders the governor and the judge Richard de Montefuscolo buy lime, stone and everything you need ...
... pro castro quod apud Sanctam Mariam de Monte fieri volumus ...
(for the castle that we want to build next to the church of St. Mary on the hill).
However, further from the document it is not entirely clear what is meant - the beginning of construction or some final work. In favor latest version says another document released in 1241-1246. - Statutum de reparatione castrorum (list of fortifications that require repair). It lists Castel del Monte as an already built castle.
As a place for the future construction of the next castle, Frederick II chose Apulia, a region that was part of the Kingdom of Sicily at that time (now the region of the province of Bari in southern Italy), where he, in fact, grew up and lived all his childhood and youth. According to the popular legend, Castel del Monte (from Italian "castle on the mountain" or "castle of the mountain") was built on the site of the ruins of the abandoned monastery of St. Mary, or rather, on a small elevation in the form of a hill, located in the middle of a deserted flat area (in 16 km from the city of Andria), later called Terra di Bari. Hence the origin of the original name of the castle Castrum Santa Maria de Monte, which remained for him for a long time.
The construction of the castle began in 1240, and the completion of the work dates back to 1250, that is, by a strange (and possibly purely accidental) coincidence, the completion of Castel del Monte coincided with the year of Frederick II's death. That, even discarding the feigned mystery, involuntarily suggests a certain symbolism, because after the death of the emperor, the entire house of Hohenstaufen will soon disappear. And one of the most vivid reminders of the great dynasty of South German kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire is the castle of Castel del Monte, invariably towering over the plains of Apulia for almost 800 years.
According to the surviving written evidence, it is known that Frederick II gave preference to the construction of objects and structures exclusively for military purposes. Therefore, it is not surprising that during his reign he managed to rebuild more than 200 castles and fortresses and at the same time was mentioned as the founder of only one church in Altamura. There were even legends about the emperor's passion for defensive fortifications, as if the court nobles sometimes begged their ruler to finally take a break and not build so many new castles. But it is not difficult to explain such a sacrifice of the spiritual needs of one's people for the sake of purely practical military goals, it is enough just to remember the difficult and irreconcilable relationship between the emperor and the Pope.
In those days, the Papal States at all costs sought to protect themselves and their possessions from the encroachments of the Holy Roman Empire, and therefore extremely tense relations always remained between each newly elected pope and emperor. And even the first and second excommunication of Frederick II (in 1227 and 1239) and the nickname of the "real antichrist" firmly entrenched in the emperor are hardly able to show the hostility and hatred that they had for each other, perhaps, at that time two of the most powerful rulers of the Catholic world. Therefore, the struggle of Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX for central part Italy, which eventually grew into an open and fierce confrontation, simply could not help but reflect on the policy pursued by the emperor. The more mysterious against the background of constant wars and uprisings that Frederick II waged and suppressed, his idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding the castle of Castel del Monte looks like, which, in fact, is neither a castle nor a fortress.
The two-story building of Castel del Monte was based on a completely non-standard shape of a regular octagon, thanks to which the castle remains the only fortification with such an unusual layout. Moreover, among all medieval castles Western Europe... That, in fact, makes it difficult and often perplexes modern researchers who are looking for reliable analogs that, in the 13th century, could have inspired Frederick II to build a structure so unusual for its era. But knowing about the good acquaintance of the emperor with the mentality oriental people (especially the Saracens), his tolerance for foreign cultures and religions and his extreme freethinking, it can be assumed that the prototypes of the future Castel del Monte could have been borrowed by Frederick II from the Muslim world, during his Crusade to the Holy Land.
This version is often associated with the Dome of the Rock mosque, built in Jerusalem in the 7th century A.D. and also in the shape of an octagon. Returning to the castle, it is worth noting that in addition to the octagonal walls 25 meters high, each corner of the castle is adjoined by octagonal towers, whose peaks rise slightly higher above the ground - 26 meters. As you can easily see, the number of corners and, accordingly, the towers of Castel del Monte is eight, but on each of the two floors of the castle there are eight identical halls, and looking at the decorations of the premises, you can also find a frequent eightfold repetition of details of the internal ornament.
And as if this repetition of the number 8 seemed small, the inner courtyard of the castle, which could well have been in the shape of a circle or a square, also represents the same octagon. Hence, it is not surprising that a strong association of the castle of Castel del Monte with the mysterious number 8, which constantly serves as an object of heightened interest of both historians and adherents of numerology, and ordinary lovers of secrets and riddles.
Because of its external similarity, Castel del Monte is often called the "crown of Apulia". And in fact, this comparison seems fair, and not only because of the external similarity, but also because Frederick II wore precisely the eight-pointed crown. So the castle and its characteristic shape could serve as a symbol of the emperor's power, which he wished to capture "in stone". Strictly speaking, only limestone (base) and marble (columns, decoration of windows and portals) were used in the construction of the castle, but this does not in the least violate the version of the castle-symbol, but rather the opposite, only confirms it once again. Undoubtedly, marble as a building material has many advantages, but it is hardly suitable for the construction of such powerful defensive fortifications as castles, fortresses or forts.
Thus, the origin of the number 8 is largely associated directly with the architecture of the castle of Castel del Monte. True, there are other assumptions, because the same figure can be seen in Frederick II's ring decorated with eight petals, and looking into the history of various cultures and teachings, you can also find your own interpretation of the symbolism of the number 8, as the personification of power, wealth, success or good luck ... But let's leave, finally, the numbers and go directly to the peculiarities of the arrangement of the castle, which with equal success could be called a hunting residence, a monument, a kind of observatory or even a religious building.
During the construction of fortifications of the Middle Ages, paramount importance was always given to the ability of a castle or fortress to withstand any attacks and their ability to withstand prolonged sieges. But, turning to the history of Castel del Monte, you can find a strange feature - moats have never been dug around the castle, and earthen ramparts have not even been poured. In addition, there are no storage facilities in the castle, where, in the event of a siege, food supplies should be saved. On the other hand, looking at the castle, along with small windows, you can see the narrow slots of the loopholes arranged along the perimeter of all the towers. This means that the small garrison that could be accommodated in the internal premises could still count on at least some advantage (in addition to the impressive walls) during the defense of the castle. But then it becomes completely incomprehensible why the spiral staircases in the towers of Castel del Monte are twisted "in the wrong direction." According to one of the rules of "castle construction", spiral staircases must rise from floor to floor in a clockwise direction.
This provides the defenders of the castles with a better position, as the attacking soldiers have to climb stairs and still fight in an awkward position. And the thing is that the soldiers going to storm the castle are deprived of the opportunity to deliver the most powerful blows with their main weapons - swords, because this requires swinging from right to left, while the soldiers defending the castle, thanks to the twist of the stairs and a higher her position will always be somewhat to the right. So the non-standard (counterclockwise) direction of the spiral staircases of Castel del Monte would have at least some justification if the castle was besieged by troops consisting exclusively of left-handers. Or, more obviously, Frederick II in this way once again emphasized the non-defensive purpose of the castle.
Among the emperor's hobbies, a special place was occupied by falconry, to which he devoted much of his free time. And on the basis of his own observations and experiments, Frederick II even wrote a treatise "The Art of Hunting with Birds." So, based on the emperor's passion for hunting, there is an assumption about the construction of Castel del Monte as a hunting residence. But such an idea is questioned by the extreme luxury and exorbitant wealth of the interior furnishings, which the castle could boast of at the time of its completion. Another purpose of Castel del Monte is associated with the peculiarities of the orientation of its entrances and windows to the cardinal points.
The main gate of the castle faces exactly to the east, and the spare gate is located strictly in the opposite - west - direction. As for the windows, both external and overlooking the courtyard, they are arranged in such a way that the premises of the second floor are illuminated by direct sunlight throughout the year, and eight halls of the first floor, during the summer and winter solstice, receive a natural and, interestingly, , absolutely uniform illumination. From here was born the version of the castle as a medieval observatory or a huge astronomical calendar.
Supporters of occultism and mysticism make their contribution to the birth of much more sacred reasons for the construction, as well as the very purpose of Castel del Monte. They adhere to the point of view that the followers of any secret teachings or societies hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated (to which Frederick II could belong) used the castle for their ritual or religious rites.
Direct evidence of such a version, of course, cannot be found, but many tourists after visiting the castle often point to the strange and unusual sensations that they experience when they first find themselves inside Castel del Monte. Perhaps people are impressed by the massiveness and impressiveness of the structure or the antiquity of the castle and its centuries-old history, from which inevitably should take your breath away. But who knows if some mysterious energy, which has not yet lost its strength and is still stored within the walls of Castel del Monte, is making itself felt?
Well, at the end of just a short acquaintance with the most famous medieval castle in Italy, if you still get distracted from otherworldly forces, it is worth recalling that Castel del Monte, soon after the death of Frederick II, will serve as a prison for his grandchildren. Then, having lost its former significance and grandeur, after numerous plunders, the castle will lose both its former splendor and its strict beauty. For centuries, an octagonal fortress, a monument to the power of the Hohenstaufen family, a hunting residence of the emperor, a cult-astronomical building will become a refuge where the local nobility will seek salvation from plague epidemics that have repeatedly flared up throughout Europe and reached the southernmost regions of Italy.
From about the 17th century, the castle will suffer the unenviable fate of being abandoned and living out its own last days in complete desolation. But, fortunately, after almost 200 years of slow and therefore imperceptible destruction, the abandoned castle will be remembered again. In 1876, following the unification of Italy into a single state, restoration work will begin in the castle of Castel del Monte, and in 1996 the castle will be included in the list of historical sites protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Fund. (whc.unesco.org/en/list/398)
And although today Castel del Monte has become a historical and tourist attraction, it still serves as a living reminder of the entire Hohenstaufen dynasty, which gave the world such great rulers as Konrad III, Frederick I Barbarossa and Henry VI.
Castle del Monte (Castel del Monte) stands alone on the secluded hill of Western Murge in the desert area of \u200b\u200bAndria, province of Bari, at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. The castle complex received its modern name only at the end of the 15th century, the original name has not survived. The castle was named Castel del Monte in honor of the ancient settlement of the same name at the foot of the hill, on which there was a small monastery of Santa Maria del Monte. Often the locals of Andria call it the "Crown of Apulia".
Historians believe that Castel del Monte was conceived as a hunting residence, but the interior decoration of the rooms was too richly decorated and furnished with luxurious furniture for such purposes.
Castel del Monte is a two-storey building with a flat roof. Externally, the palace is a regular octagon with a length of each side equal to 16.5 meters.
A magnificent octagonal tower rises at each corner. Exactly in the center of the height along the entire perimeter of the castle complex, a narrow cornice stretches, which serves as a visual division of the floors. The upper cornice separates the basement of the palace and is located at a height of 2 meters.
The inner courtyard of Castel del Monte is shaped according to the outlines of the building itself. The height of the structure on the inner side of the courtyard is 20.5 meters, only the corner towers stand proudly upward. On the roof of the castle, there is a paved terrace neatly laid out in the form of a herringbone, from which a stunning panoramic view of the sea opens.
The facade of the central entrance faces east side... There is a second emergency entrance on the western wall. The building is constructed of polished limestone, and only round columns, decorative window frames and facades are made of high quality marble. Each of the outer walls has two windows, on the first one - one-arched, on the second - two-arched. A striking decoration of the northern side on the second floor is one single window with three arches. The interior apartments are shaped like a regular trapezoid. The castle has only 16 full rooms - eight on each floor. Despite the fact that all apartments have a similar shape, they differ in the location of the doors. The two large halls of Castel del Monte have exits to both sides of the building and are connected to adjacent halls, while they do not have an entrance to the courtyard. In addition to the passage rooms, there are also end rooms in the fortress with one door to the corridor. The most striking of these premises is the Throne Room.
The corner towers serve as wardrobes, bathrooms and spiral staircases. Moreover, the arrangement of Castel del Monte toilets proves the high level of sanitary standards in the civilized society of the Middle Ages. All toilets were well ventilated by means of vents in the walls and flushed with water from the tanks installed on the roof. An interesting fact is that the stairs do not twist traditionally to the right, but to the left, like the physiology of nature, as, for example, the shell of a snail twists to the right.
There is a legend that the romantic and mysterious Castel del Monte has a secret underground eighteen kilometer tunnel to the Ducale di Andria castle, and a four kilometer passage to the Castello di Canosa fortress.
Castel del Monte was built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who thought out a bright and original design for the fortress. Until now, historians argue about the timing of the construction of the complex. According to some documents, it becomes clear that the decree of Frederick II was issued in 1237 and says about the construction of a new castle in Santa Maria di Monte.
From other documents it follows that the king's decree dates from 1240 and urged the restoration of the fortress, previously built by Lombard Robert Giscard and his son Roger Norman in 1073. In any case, Castel del Monte acquired its modern appearance under Frederick II and bears similarities with other fortifications of this era, designed to protect against an external enemy, such as Barletta, Bari, Brindisi, Cosenza, Joya del Colle, etc.
In 1266, in the war for domination over the territories of Sicily and Naples, Frederick's son Manfred was defeated and killed. This ended the rule of the Swabian dynasty in Italy. The winner of the Battle of Benevento, Charles of Anjou, imprisoned the underage children of Manfred - Friedrich, Heinrich and Enzo - in the castle, where they spent 33 years. Thereafter, Castel del Monte was used from time to time for wedding ceremonies.
In 1459 the fortress passed into the possession of the noble Italian family of the lord Ferrante of Aragon. And in 1656 the castle served as a residence for the noble families of Italy fleeing from the plague for the last time, which raged in the city of Andria. And after a while Castel del Monte became empty and only in the 19th century it turned into the home of shepherds, local robbers and marauders. During this period, the castle was plundered, precious marble materials were stripped from the walls, and rich sculptures were sold.
In 1876, the fortification passed into the possession of the noble Carafa family, who were engaged in its restoration and reconstruction.
Currently, Castel del Monte is a monument of medieval architecture and is open to all interested tourists.
The cost of excursions (when buying a ticket on the spot): adults - € 3; children under 18, visitors over 65 and disabled people (upon presentation of an ID) - free of charge; students from 18 to 25 years old - € 1.5.
Tour time: ~ 30 min. Opening hours: March - September 10.45 - 19.45; October - February 09.45 - 18.45, closed for Christmas and New Years.
The majestic Castel del Monte is one of the most famous landmarks in the Italian region of Puglia. Moreover, it will not be an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most mysterious castles in the world.
Unlike others mystical places, the amazing castle is not hidden from prying eyes behind the mountains and forests. On the contrary, it is visible from afar. You drive along the freeway and see, here he is, handsome, towering on top of the hill. And it doesn't matter that the name of the building is translated as “castle on the mountain”, only those who have never seen real mountains in their life can literally take the name Castel del Monte. Built on a castle on the very site where the Maria del Monte monastery was located until the thirteenth century, hence the first name of the building, which few people remember today - castrum Sancta Maria de Monte.
Photo: view of Castel del Monte
Today, the crowd of people does not dry up to Castel del Monte. For this, many thanks to the magical world of cinema and the Italian director Matteo Garrone in particular, because it was in the unusual halls of this monumental structure that he settled the characters - the king who raised the flea, and the princess whom the eccentric dad married to the cannibal. Curiously, until the twentieth century, the castle was in an abandoned state, and shepherds spent the night there. Today architectural structure is in the care of UNESCO, as a result, it was washed and put in order, but the interior decoration of the halls was not preserved - the same Matteo Garrone had to hastily fill the space of the premises with the props brought to the castle.
Photo: shooting of the film "Scary Tales"
Garrone chose Castel del Monte for the film adaptation of the tales of the Neapolitan Giambattista Basile for a reason, because this place is incredibly mysterious. Although located 16 kilometers from the city of Andria, Castel del Monte bears the honorary title of one of the most famous medieval castles in the world, in essence it is not a castle.
Shot from the movie "Scary Tales", the princess and the king on the roof of the castle
The fact is that in the understanding of the normal person of the Middle Ages, the castle could be built only for one of two purposes. The first goal, it is also the main one - defense and terrain control. In this case, one or another lord erected a small fortress, as a rule, on the top of a mountain, helping to repel enemy attacks, and at the same time, in general, to influence the situation in the region. The second task is a fortified place to live. Sometimes castles grew to the size of cities, take, for example, but their powerful walls again made it possible to hold back hordes of enemies.
But Castel del Monte is not intended for defense at all. Where are the walls and the moat with water? Where are any decent defenses? This place also seems to be of little use for life. Of course, even Walter Scott in his "Ivanhoe" wrote that the concept of "comfort" did not exist in the Middle Ages, but this castle, even by medieval standards, is far from the home of a self-respecting lord. It's okay that all the halls inside are connected to each other, but, most importantly, there is no place for a stable and there is no kitchen. So, most of all, the castle looks like a kind of old art object, built for ideas, such houses are sometimes designed by modern architects who have received an absolute carte blanche for the implementation of their creative ideas in conjunction with an unlimited budget.
This association is quite appropriate if you know who built Castel del Monte. The castle was built on the mountain by the Emperor Frederick II Staufen himself - a legendary person in all respects. He not only managed to win the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from competitors and lead the sixth crusade, but was also considered one of the most educated people of his time. He knew Greek, Latin and Arabic, founded a university in Naples, where not only Christians, but also Jews and Arabs taught, and this, by the way, is the height of tolerance by medieval standards. Frederick II as a whole was very far from Christian prejudices, here are illustrative examples: the emperor insisted that doctors study anatomy on corpses, and Frederick also had a warm attitude towards Fibonacci and even arranged mathematical tournaments.
Photo: engraving depicting Frederick II
The emperor also had a penchant for writing: he is credited with writing an essay on falconry, and at his court he created a Sicilian school of poetry. At the same time, like all progressive people of his time, Frederick II was a fan of a wide variety of mystical teachings, he studied astronomy and astrology. With the personal life of the emperor, everything was also interesting, he earned the reputation of Bluebeard, since he was married four times, however, his last marriage with his permanent mistress Bianca Lancia was never recognized by the church. Frederick II gave birth to a great many children - 20 legitimate, but for obvious reasons, no one scrupulously counted the bastards.
Castel del Monte was built by Frederick II from 1240 to 1250, that is, in the last decade of his life. The name of the architect is unknown, but many historians, not without reason, believe that he was the emperor himself - a painfully intricate design was the result. The fact is that, like many medieval mystics, Frederick was obsessed with the number eight, which symbolizes infinity, and it is constantly traced in the structure of the castle.
To begin with, the castle, when viewed from above, is a regular octagon, and an octagonal tower is erected at each corner of the structure. The shape of the inner courtyard of the castle also repeats the octagon. The castle has only two floors, the roof is flat, and the main entrance to Castel del Monte looks strictly to the east, because, as it was believed in the Middle Ages, the good news came to us from the east.
Photo: windows overlooking the courtyard of the castle
There are 8 rooms on each floor of the castle, all of them are connected to each other, so that Castel del Monte can be easily walked around the perimeter. The rooms are made in the form of trapezoids, and windows are cut through the walls. Toilets, wardrobes and spiral staircases are located in the corner turrets. By the way, the castle has a separate story with the stairs - usually in all castles they are "twisted" to the right, since this is optimal for the defense of the object, but in Castel del Monte, on the contrary, they are "turned" to the left, that is, the way it does nature, because it is to the left that the shells of mollusks or snail shells are twisted.
Photo: stairs in Castel del Monte
All rooms of the castle are exactly the same, the rooms differ from each other only in the location of the doors and the number of windows. In the decorative elements, the number eight again dominates: on the capitals of the columns - eight leaves each, on the bas-reliefs in the rooms - eight leaves or clover flowers.
Another interesting thing is that direct rays of sunlight fall into the windows of the second floor twice a day (with the first floor, this rule works only in the summer), so many assume that mysterious castle - nothing more than a huge sundial, and at the same time an astronomical device. In addition, twice a year during the summer and winter solstice, sunlight is evenly distributed among all rooms on the ground floor. This, of course, is also no coincidence, so many historians suggest that the first floor of Castel del Monte is a kind of analogue of the solar calendar.
You could calm down here, but here's another curious reason for thinking - twice a year, on April 8 and October 8, the sun's rays pass through the windows of the castle into the courtyard in such a way that they fall strictly on the part of the wall where in the time of Frederick II a certain bas-relief was carved, now lost. Well, and to make things quite difficult, it is worth remembering that October in the thirteenth century was considered the eighth month of the year.
Frederick II died before he could finish the construction of the castle - the building of Castel del Monte was completed, but the interior decoration was not completed to the end. After the death of the emperor, there were legends in Europe that Frederick did not die, but disappeared in an unknown direction in order to reform the church and establish universal brotherhood and peace. A certain symbolism is seen in this, because the octagon, which is repeated in the structure of Castel del Monte, in the Middle Ages symbolized the transition from the world of the living to the kingdom of the dead, and at the same time the unity of heaven and earth.
Everything is very simple here - the square was considered a symbol of the earth, the circle was a symbol of the sky, and the octagon was an intermediate figure that signified both unity and transition. However, scientists far from mysticism believe that the repeated use of the octagon is simply a reference to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, because Frederick II saw the dome over the cornerstone during his crusade.
Encrypted in Castel del Monte and biblical symbols. The fact is that the castle has exactly five drainage basins and five fireplaces, many associate this with the phrase of the Baptist John from the Gospel of Luke: “I baptize you in water for repentance, but the One who follows me is stronger than me; I am not worthy to bear His shoes; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. " So, it is easy to assume that Castel del Monte was for Frederick II an analogue of the temple, built according to his personal project, and this is quite consistent with the emperor's ambitions.
By the way, this hypothesis is confirmed by another curious detail. If you look closely at the entrance to the castle, you can see the giant letter F encrypted there. If inside the tomb of Frederick II, associations with the pyramids would be inevitable, and so Castel del Monte seems to be a kind of personal portal of the emperor, erected according to his plan and in his honour. At least, when you stand in the courtyard of the castle and, with your head raised, look at the sky, imprisoned in an octagon of powerful limestone walls, even the most inveterate materialists have a feeling of belonging to the medieval magical tradition. And the energy of this place is special, in the style of those "Scary Tales" by Matteo Garrone.
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Yulia Malkova - Julia Malkova - founder of the site project. In the past, the chief editor of the internet project elle.ru and the chief editor of the website cosmo.ru. I'm talking about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
Those. The castle on the mountain was built in the XIII century by Emperor Frederick II.
This is one of the most mysterious castles in the world, full of secrets and symbols.
Once there was the church of Santa Maria del Monte, from which not a trace remained, in 1240 Frederick II ordered to build a castle on this hill. The emperor died in 1250, i.e. the construction of the grandiose castle took only 10 years.
Who was the architect, according to whose project the massive structure was erected, is unknown, its purpose is also unknown.
Frederick II was on friendly terms with the Grand Master of the Teutons Hermann von Salz. Some literary sources say that the emperor himself reached the highest circles of initiation and even presided over a round table in 1228, where representatives of all knightly orders, both Christian and Muslim, gathered.
The construction of the castle was clearly not without the influence of the Templars and is a philosophical construct, the material embodiment of mathematical, astronomical and esoteric knowledge.
The castle has a clear connection with the number 8.
In the plan, it represents octagons located on two floors.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
An octagon is a symbolic figure, a transitional state between a square - a symbol of the earth and a circle - a symbol of the sky.
The corners of the octagon go around the turrets with eight sides, similar to those built by the Templars.
The eight trapezoidal rooms on the first floor are identical to the eight rooms on the second floor; spiral staircases rotate counterclockwise in the turrets (although in other buildings of that time, all staircases were built clockwise).
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
Almost all rooms have communicating doors and create the impression of an endless maze.
The castle has no bedrooms, no living rooms, no kitchen, and no servants' rooms.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
The courtyard contained an octagonal fountain or pool, carved from a single piece of marble. According to the plan, the fountain symbolized the Holy Grail and served for the "tears of the Lord" ceremony, that is, the rite of "baptism in wisdom", which was practiced by the Templars. Under the fountain was a huge cistern for collecting rainwater, and it also received water from five other cisterns under five of the eight towers. The tanks were combined into a hydraulic system and used for sewerage. This is one of the oldest examples of medieval sewerage that has survived to this day.
Interior details continue the theme of eights: 8 four-leafed flowers on the right cornice of the portal tympanum and 8 of the same on the left; 8 leaves on the capitals of all columns; 8 leaves on the vault key. In different rooms there are decorations of 8 sunflower leaves, 8 acanthus leaves or figs.
Number 8 is special. It is a symbol of infinity and an intermediary between heaven and earth.
If you follow this version, then it is not a castle at all, but a temple of secret knowledge with a main entrance similar to a church portal and turned to the east to meet the rising sun.
The position of the sun in general plays an important role in the construction of the castle, so at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox, the walls of the courtyard cast a shadow exactly equal to the length of the courtyard, and on the days of the winter and summer solstices, ideal rectangles appear, outlining the walls of the castle so that it itself is exactly in the center ...
The picture is completed by two lions sitting on columns at the entrance and looking at the horizon at those points where the sun rises on the summer and winter solstices.
If you do not get carried away with the esoteric version, then you can recall that Frederick II was a great lover of falconry and even wrote a book with his own illustrations dedicated to ornithology and bird hunting, the first scientific work in this area during the Middle Ages.
The emperor loved to hunt in these places, and Castel del Monte could be a hunting castle, which was also used for solemn events... For example, the weddings of his daughter Violanta to the Count of Caserta Riccardo Sanseverino.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
For many centuries it remained abandoned. In 1876 the castle was bought by the state, it was restored and put in order. In 1996 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
And now everyone can admire the castle, similar in shape to the crown, in which Frederick II was crowned and located at an absolutely strategic disadvantage among the open space.
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Castel del Monte is called the "Crown of Puglia" and is considered one of the most mysterious buildings not only in Italy, but throughout Europe. Within these walls, 8 centuries ago, amazing, mystical and, possibly, terrible things happened, about which much is still unknown.
Castel del Monte (or castle on the mountain) is located in Italy, in the Puglia region. Its construction was started by order of Frederick II, presumably in 1240. It is interesting that just a year before that, the financial condition of Spain was so deplorable that Frederick II stopped the construction of several military fortresses. But not Castel del Monte.
A bit of history
The history of the castle has a lot of mysteries and unknowns - and even has its own mystical number. The structure and pool are octagonal, 8 towers at the edges, 8 halls on the lower floor and 8 on the upper. In the details of architecture, you can find the number 8 countless times: in the leaves on the columns, in the pattern on the vaults. By the way, the magic of the number 8 spread to the owner of the castle, Frederick II, however, after death. When the tomb of the king, who died in 1250 (add the numbers), was opened for the restoration of the cathedral in Palermo, on his hand was found a mysterious ring with an emerald surrounded by gold petals, of which there were ... of course, 8.
What to see
From a distance, the Nagorny Castle looks round, but if you come closer, you can see its unusual shape. Castel del Monte is built in the form of a regular octagon with towers at the corners. In courtyard there was a pool of the same shape, carved out of a single piece of stone - the symbol of the Holy Grail.
Castel del Monte stands alone on a secluded hill, rising to the roof, you can enjoy the panoramic sea views from the stone terrace.
It is still not known for sure why this castle was built. Of course, there is an official version - Frederick II, who was fond of falconry, wanted to use it as a hunting lodge, but it is surprising that Castel del Monte has no rooms for servants, a separate kitchen, or a stable. In short, everything that should definitely be in a royal hunting residence.
But in the castle there are many fireplaces, too small in size for cooking on them, but suitable for alchemical experiments. Spiral staircases, twisted not to the right, as required by the tradition of that time, but to the left. Connecting doors that allow almost the entire castle to pass unnoticed, passing from one room to another. There is also a legend about a secret tunnel, almost 18 km long, leading to the Ducale di Andria castle.
Practical information
Address: Apulia, Auto Strada Statale, 170 Dir. Website (in English).
You can get there by bus number 6 from Andria (only in the summer season from May to September) or by private car - there is a parking lot near the castle.
Opening hours: from October 1 to March 31 - from 9:00 to 18:30 (ticket sales until 18:00), from April 1 to September 30 - from 10:15 to 19:45 (ticket sales until 19:15) ... The castle is closed from December 25 to January 2. Opening hours for other holidays will appear on the website.
Excursion cost: adults - 5 EUR, students (18-25 years old) - 2.50 EUR. Audio guide - 3.50 EUR.
