As a consequence of structural extension during the late middle
ages and the 16th century, it became one of the largest castles
in Southern Germany.

It was rebuild by the Count of Wertheim in the 15th century
as his fortress, and as such played its role until the stormy
development of fighting techniques in the 16 th century destroyed
its political significance.

The castle has change from a fortress, to an administration
centre and is today a centre of romantic appeal and a focal point
for visitors to Breubert.

The owner, the Count of Hesse, is having the youth hostel,
in the upper part of the castle, renovated.

This is the knight's room of Breuberg castle, also known as
the Erbach ceremonial room. At the entrance of this building
there is an inscription which tells us that it was build by
Johann-Casimir from Erbach. The year 1613 is mentioned as
the construction date. Accompanying this is the Crest of the
Counts of Erbach. The Counts of Erbach could also be
called "Masters of Breuberg".

1613 was a restless period. It was about this time that the
Catholic church tried to win back their formery dominant
position, while the Protestant church was reluctant to
relinquish any of its power.

Johann-Casimir von Erbach was born in 1584 and was
educated for ten years in Strasbourg before he became a
soldier. It was durning his military service, when he was
twenty years old,  that he was badly wounded in the war
against the Turks and then returned to his homeland.
Breuberg Castle was then altered into a residence, and the
Johann-Casimir room was built. This is how this building,
with its representative knight's room and ceiling of raised
plaster work, came about.

Johann-Casimir decorated this room with antique figures
from Greek mythology to inspire the onlocker.
 

Explanations of the pictures

Middle part:

The family tree show 32 crests illustrating Johann-Casimir's
roots. There are 16 crest from his father's side and 16 from
his mother's.

Frontpart:

One was expected to show reverence to the emperor. Thus
we find the master of the house within the procession of the
immortal Gods. Opposite, we see Jupiter, the highest God,
pulled in his chariot by two eagles. For Johann Casimir this
symbolised the Roman-German emperors.

The father of the Gods is followed by his daughter Diana,
the Goddess of nature and hunting. In Greek mythology
she was Artemis

Right Wall:

Saturn with a scythe in his right hand is the latin God of
agriculture. Here he is portrayed as Chronos who reminds
us of our mortality. The next chariot drawn by a pair of
griffins carries Nemesis, who with a sword and scales
imbodies justice.

In the background, Kibele, withe her crown, is identified as
the protecress of the City, as were the "Masters of
Breuberg" protectors of the town, also.

Facing the yard:

On the right, beside the door, we see a portrayal of the
3 graces. These Goddesses togeather represent beauty
and elegance. On the left of the door is Venus, the Goddess
of Love with her little son, Amor

In front of Venus is Sol, the Sun God with his chariot, who
was believe to bring the sunlight which supportss life.

The procession of the Gods also shows Mercury, the
messenger of the Gods. Falcons draw his chariot. He was
the God of thieves and merchants.

Pictures on the ceiling:

Back, left

To the left of the host we see how the maide-like Venus
glides over the water. Her chariot is a mussel, drawn by
two dolphins and propelled by a veil as a sail in the wind.

Centre-left:

Here, over-cofidence is characterised by Phaeton, the son
of the Sun God. He wanted to drive the sun chariot,
however he lost control and the chariot was shattered, the
horses fell from the sky and fire rained down on the earth,
sending cities up in flames.

Front-right:

With his contorted face Ixion spins like a wheel throught the
sky. After being forgiven for murdering his father, he was
allowed back on Mount Olypus by Zeus. There he tried to
seduce Hera, the Mother God. He was caught and must
now eternally spin through the sky on a wheel of fire.

Centre-right:

It is interesting to see Venus and Amor again in this
medallion. Amor has made Venus fall in love by wounding
her with and arrow. And Amor, the boy, has become a man.

Back right:

And finally Daedalus and Icarus. They were imprisoned in
Crete and made wings of feathers and wax in order to
escape. They were sucessful in their escape-bid. The highter
they flew, however, the greater grew their desire to be like
the Gods. When they came near to the sun., the wax melted
and their plunge to earth was inevitable.

And then the many miniatures with which the stucco-master,
Fischer, filled the empty spaces. There are representations
of Reynard the fox, monks and nuns, grape harvesting,
barrel making, the Phoeniz and many others.