Castle del Monte (Castel del Monte) rises alone on the secluded hill of Western Murge in the desert area of the city of Andria, province of Bari, at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. Modern name The castle complex received only at the end of the 15th century; the original name has not been preserved. The castle Castel del Monte was named after the ancient settlement of the same name at the foot of the hill, on which was the small monastery of Santa Maria del Monte. Often local residents Andria 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 Great Migration that began after this, which in the future, for many centuries, will serve as fertile ground for the emergence of countless cultural, linguistic and religious conflicts between the Germanic and Romanesque peoples who previously lived on the territory of the once united empire. “The Dark Ages,” as the famous Italian poet Petrarch rightfully called this era, despite the global upheavals, without which not a single civilization has survived in the history of its development, will also become a time of great transformations.
As never before, the church in the person of the Pope will gain unprecedented power and power, which everyone will have to reckon with, from the inhabitants of remote settlements and residents of enlightened cities to monarchs and kings. This is the heyday of the ideals of monasticism and the unlimited power of the Inquisition, sowing 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 no less blood was shed by Muslims and crusaders on the battlefields in the struggle for holy Jerusalem. 
Of course, to get even an approximate idea of the Middle Ages, which occupied almost nine centuries in the history of mankind, you will need to be familiar with much more extensive information. But the mention of these several significant events allows us to get an idea of the time and conditions in which the largely mysterious and in its own unique castle of 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 mysteries that generously shroud Castel del Monte, it is worth paying attention to the direct owner of the castle, whose personality seems just as colorful , how contradictory.
Much can be said about this man, whose lust for power and cruelty knew no bounds, but the mention of just one fact from his turbulent life gives a very clear and visual idea of the ambiguous character and disposition of this person. So, never having 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 Christendom Jerusalem. We are talking about none other than the Holy Roman Emperor, ruler of Germany, king of Sicily and Jerusalem, Frederick II of 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 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. The latest version is supported by another document released by in 1241-1246. - Statutum de reparatione castrorum ( list of fortifications that require repairs). It lists Castel del Monte as an already built castle.
As the site for the future construction of the next castle, Frederick II chooses Apulia, a region that was at that time part of the Kingdom of Sicily (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 prevailing 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 hill 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 with it 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 (or perhaps purely coincidental) coincidence, the completion of Castel del Monte coincided with the year of the death of Frederick II. Which, even putting aside the feigned mystery, involuntarily suggests some symbolism, because after the death of the emperor, the entire House of Hohenstaufen will soon disappear. And one of the most striking reminders of the great dynasty of South German kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire remains the Castel del Monte castle, which has consistently towered over the flat terrain of Apulia for almost 800 years.
According to 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 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 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; one need only remember the difficult and irreconcilable relationship between the emperor and the Pope.
In those days, the Papal States sought at all costs to protect itself and its possessions from the encroachments of the Holy Roman Empire, and therefore extremely tense relations always remained between each newly elected pope and the emperor. And even the first and second excommunications of Frederick II (in 1227 and 1239) and the nickname of “the real Antichrist”, which was firmly attached to the emperor, are hardly capable of showing the hostility and hatred that they had for each other, perhaps, at that time two of the most powerful rulers in the Catholic world. Therefore, the struggle between Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX for the central part of Italy, which over time developed into an open and fierce confrontation, simply could not help but affect the policies pursued by the emperor. All the more mysterious against the backdrop of the constant wars and uprisings that Frederick II waged and suppressed is his idea of building the Castel del Monte castle, which, in fact, is neither a castle nor a fortress.
The basis of the two-story building of Castel del Monte was taken from 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 the medieval castles of Western Europe. Which, in fact, complicates and often baffles modern researchers who are busy searching for reliable analogues that in the 13th century could have inspired Frederick II to build such an unusual structure for his era. But knowing about the emperor’s good acquaintance with the mentality of the Eastern people (especially the Saracens), his tolerance for foreign cultures and religions and his extreme free-thinking, it can be assumed that the prototypes of the future Castel del Monte could have been borrowed by Frederick II from Muslim world, during his Crusade to the Holy Land.
The Dome of the Rock mosque, built in Jerusalem back in the 7th century AD, is often associated with this version. and also shaped like 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 adjacent to octagonal towers, whose tops rise above the ground a little higher - 26 meters. As is easy to see, the number of corners and, accordingly, towers of Castel del Monte is eight, but on each of the two floors of the castle there are eight identical halls, and if you look closely at the decoration of the rooms, you can also find a frequent eightfold repetition of the details of the internal ornament.
And as if this repetition of the number 8 seemed small, the courtyard of the castle, which could well have the shape of a circle or square, is also the same octagon. Hence, it is not surprising that there is a strong association of the Castel del Monte castle with the mysterious number 8, which constantly serves as an object of intense interest to historians, adherents of numerology, and ordinary lovers of secrets and riddles.
Due to its external similarity, Castel del Monte is often called the “crown of Apulia”. Indeed, this comparison seems fair, and not only due to the external similarity, but also because Frederick II wore an 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 in no way violates the version of the castle-symbol, but rather, on the contrary, only once again confirms it. Marble as a building material undoubtedly has a lot of 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 Castel del Monte castle. True, there are other assumptions, because the same number can be seen in the ring of Frederick II, decorated with eight petals, and by 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 finally leave the numbers and move directly to the features of the castle, which could equally well be called a hunting residence, a monument, a kind of observatory, or even a religious building.
When building fortifications in the Middle Ages, paramount importance was always given to the ability of a castle or fortress to withstand any attack and its ability to withstand long sieges. But, turning to the history of Castel del Monte, you can discover a strange feature - ditches were never dug around the castle or even earthen ramparts were poured. In addition, there are no storage facilities in the castle where food supplies should be stored in the event of a siege. On the other hand, taking a closer look at the castle, along with small windows, you can also notice narrow slits of loopholes located along the perimeter of all the towers. This means that the small garrison that could be accommodated in the interior could still count on at least some advantage (besides the impressive walls) during the defense of the castle. But then it becomes completely unclear 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 building”, spiral staircases should rise from floor to floor in a clockwise direction.
This gives castle defenders a better position, as attacking soldiers have to climb stairs and fight in an awkward position. But 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 twisting of the stairs and a higher her position will always be slightly to the right. So the non-standard (counterclockwise) direction of the spiral staircases of Castel del Monte would have received at least some justification only if the castle had been besieged by troops consisting exclusively of left-handers. Or, what is more obvious, Frederick II in this way once again emphasized the non-defense purpose of the castle.
Among the emperor's hobbies, falconry occupied a special place, to which he devoted a lot of his free time. And based on his own observations and experiments, Frederick II even wrote a treatise “The Art of Hunting with Birds.” Thus, 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 called into question by the extreme luxury and exorbitant richness of the interior furnishings that 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 gates are located strictly in the opposite - western - direction. As for the windows, both external and facing the courtyard, they are arranged in such a way that the rooms of the second floor are illuminated by direct sunlight throughout the year, and the eight halls of the first floor receive natural and, interestingly, light during the summer and winter solstice. , absolutely uniform lighting. This is where the version of the castle as a medieval observatory or a huge astronomical calendar was born.
Supporters of occultism and mysticism make their contribution to the emergence of much more sacred reasons for the construction, as well as the very purpose of Castel del Monte. They are of the view that followers of some secret teachings or societies hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated (to which Frederick II could belong) used the castle to conduct their ritual or religious rites.
Of course, direct evidence of such a version cannot be found, but many tourists, after visiting the castle, often point out 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, which inevitably takes their breath away. But who knows, whether some mysterious energy is making itself known, which has not yet lost its power and is still stored within the walls of Castel del Monte?
Well, at the end of just a brief acquaintance with the most famous medieval castle in Italy, if we still ignore 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 lootings, the castle will lose both its former splendor and its austere beauty. Over the centuries, the octagonal fortress, a monument to the power of the Hohenstaufen family, the hunting residence of the emperor, and a cult-astronomical structure would become a refuge where the local nobility would seek salvation from the plague epidemics that broke out more than once throughout Europe and reached the very southern regions Italy.
Around the 17th century, the castle suffered the unenviable fate of being abandoned and living out its 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 began at the Castel del Monte castle, and in 1996 the castle will become one of the 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 Conrad III, Frederick I Barbarossa and Henry VI.
In 1459, the fortress came into the possession of the noble Italian family of Lord Ferrante of Aragon. And in 1656, the castle last served as a residence for noble families of Italy fleeing the plague, which was raging in the city of Andria. And after some time, Castel del Monte was empty and only in the 19th century it became the home of shepherds, local bandits and marauders. During this period, the castle was looted, precious marble materials were stripped from the walls, and the rich sculptures were sold.
In 1876, the fortification came into the possession of the noble Carafa family, which began its restoration and reconstruction.
Currently, the Castel del Monte castle is a monument of medieval architecture and is open to all tourists.
sources
http://www.castlesguide.ru/italy/monte.html
http://www.allcastles.ru/italy/castel-del-monte
http://itlm.ru
Of the castles it would remind you of Italy, but let’s say the English one is also somewhat similar to the one examined today. The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -
Castel del Monte, which means "castle on the mountain" in Italian, is located in the province of Bari, Apulia region of Italy. Sometimes the castle is called the “crown of Apulia”. This is one of the significant and most famous castle buildings from the reign of Emperor Frederick II. At the end of the 20th century, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history of the castle's creation is shrouded in mystery. Built between 1240 and 1250, the “castle on the mountain” is the centerpiece of many legends and myths regarding the reasons for the construction of such an unusual structure, which are still unknown.
The twenty-five-meter walls of the castle form a regular octagon, in each corner of which there is a tower that is exactly one meter higher than the walls. Interestingly, the towers also have the shape of a regular octagon, and the central portal of the building is directed strictly to the east.
Unlike the protective and defensive structures of those times, Castel del Monte does not have an artificial ditch, embankment or suspension bridge, and the spiral staircases inside the castle are twisted not to the right, as is customary in all buildings of this type, but to the left, by analogy with nature, which twists everything exactly this way, be it a snail’s shell or a funnel in a pond. The windows in the towers are located in such a way that the rays of the Sun, passing through them, turn the castle into a huge sundial, calendar or some other astronomical instrument, the purpose of which remains a mystery today.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
Those. The castle on the mountain was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II.
This is one of the most mysterious castles in the world, full of secrets and symbols.
The church of Santa Maria del Monte once stood here, of which not a trace remains. In 1240, Frederick II ordered the construction of a castle on this hill. The Emperor died in 1250, i.e. Only 10 years were allotted for the construction of the grandiose castle.
It is unknown who the architect was, according to whose design the massive structure was erected, and its purpose is also unknown.
Frederick II was on friendly terms with the Teutonic Grand Master Hermann von Salz. Some literary sources say that the emperor himself reached the highest circles of initiation and even presided over the “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 construction, a material embodiment of mathematical, astronomical and esoteric knowledge.
The castle has a clear connection with the number 8.
The plan is octagonal, located on two floors.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
The octagon is a symbolic figure, a transitional state between the square – a symbol of the earth and the circle – a symbol of the sky.
The corners of the octagon are surrounded by turrets, also 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 the time all staircases were built clockwise).
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
Almost all rooms have connecting doors and create the impression of an endless labyrinth.
The castle has no bedrooms, no living rooms, no kitchen, no servants' quarters.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
In the courtyard there was 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” ritual, i.e. the rite of “baptism in wisdom” practiced by the Templars. Under the fountain there was a huge cistern for collecting rainwater, and it also received water from five other cisterns located under five of the eight towers. The tanks were combined into a hydraulic system and used for sewage. 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-leaf flowers on the right cornice of the tympanum of the portal 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 made of 8 sunflower leaves, 8 acanthus leaves or fig leaves.
The number 8 is special. It is a symbol of infinity and a mediator between heaven and earth.
If you follow this version, then it is not a castle at all, but a temple of secret knowledge with the main entrance, similar to a church portal and turned east to meet the rising sun.
The position of the sun generally plays an important role in the design 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 the castle 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 the points where the sun rises on the summer and winter solstice.
If you don't get carried away esoteric version, then we can remember that Frederick II was a great fan of falconry and even wrote a book with his own illustrations dedicated to ornithology and bird hunting, the first scientific work in this field during the Middle Ages.
The Emperor loved to hunt in these places, and Castel del Monte could have been a hunting castle, which was also used for ceremonial events. For example, the wedding of his daughter Violanta with the Count of Caserta Riccardo Sanseverino.
Castel del Monte. Apulia.
It remained abandoned for many centuries. 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 in an absolutely strategically disadvantageous position among open space.
The castle is located in Puglia, near the city of Andria. According to assumptions, it was erected on the site of a destroyed fortress. True, no trace of her was ever found. In 1240, King Frederick II gave the order to build a castle on the site of the fortress. Construction lasted exactly ten years. After the completion of construction, the ruler unexpectedly dies. From that moment all the secrets began. Until now, no one knows who built the castle and how it was used in people's lives. It is known that Frederick was friends with the leader of the Teutonic Order. Some documents indicate that even the emperor himself was a member of the order and was one of the masters. The structure has no practical significance; it was built under the influence of the Templars. It is unlikely that practical minds will understand its essence; it is better to think philosophically here.
If you look closely at the structure, you can pay attention to the octagons located on the floors of the castle. The octagon is in an intermediate position between the square, the sign of the earth, and the circle, which represents the sky. The Templars always built such buildings for themselves. There are eight trapezoid-shaped rooms on the first and second floors. The towers can be reached by spiral staircases that rotate counterclockwise. This is contrary to all other buildings of past centuries, in which the stairs turned clockwise. All rooms of the castle are built like a labyrinth; it is completely unclear which of them you will find yourself in next time. What is also surprising is that there is not a single living space in the castle, there are empty bare rooms around.
Inside the castle, in the courtyard there is an octagon-shaped pool carved from a single piece of marble. It was used for the secret “Tear of God” ritual performed by members of the Templar Order. Under the pool there was a system of rainwater tanks. This is one of the first examples of ancient sewers that have survived to this day. The entire interior was simply filled with objects that resembled figure eights. Even in the stucco on the walls there are a lot of references to the number eight. Why exactly "8"? The thing is that this number symbolizes infinity and connects heaven and earth.
If we consider the castle from the mystical side, then it was used as a secret temple, as a place that helped to get in touch with heavenly forces. Even the entrance to the structure is located on the side of the rising sun. Judging by the entire architecture and location, the sun plays one of the main roles. At noon, it casts a shadow in such a way that its outline completely follows the proportions of the castle. During the summer solstice, rectangular shadows appear, cast so that the castle is exactly in the middle. There are two lions on the entrance columns, looking directly at the sunrise points.
If we consider the practical side of using the lock, everything is simple. Scientists have found that Frederick II was very fond of falcon hunting. He even wrote a whole book about these birds with his own drawings. It is likely that Castel del Monte was used as a hunting castle or for important events.
