Farmers occupy Rötteln Castle: bloodly uprising in the heart of the Black Forest!

Farmers occupy Rötteln Castle: bloodly uprising in the heart of the Black Forest!

Lörrach, Deutschland - in May 1525, an uprising broke out in Baden-Württemberg that captivated the rural population. Insidered farmers occupied the Rötteln Castle and held the rural bailiff in house arrest. According to the Black Forest Bode about looters, but about a peaceful movement that relied on negotiations. They did not want to cause destruction, but enforce serious reforms.

The farmers were organized in so -called “landscapes”. These gave them the opportunity to participate in important decisions, especially when it came to taxes. The Rötteln Castle also represented a central retreat for the insurgents. The mostly undesirable "Black Forest heaps" relied on a non -violent solution to their concerns.

The exhibition on the peasant wars

In order to shed light on these events and their influence on history, a team of enthusiasts under the direction of Heiner Mues and Burgvogt Uwe Gimpel has launched an exhibition. This not only represents local events, but also illuminates the most important leaders of the peasant wars. The aim of this exhibition is to correct some of the most common errors in historiography, such as the Black Forest messenger

The exhibition offers a variety of exhibits, including everyday peasant objects and symbols of the life of the farmers, the clergy and the nobility. Two large keys that are visibly exhibited symbolize the bloodless occupation of the Rötteln Castle and also the Sausenburg. The cruel persecution by Margrave Ernst von Baden, who had 14 men put on Rötteln Castle, is also discussed.

The central demands of the farmers

Another central point of the exhibition are the twelve demands of the peasantry of 1525. These demands are still important and include:

• abolition of serfdom
• Free hunting, fishing and wood use in the forest
• less frond services (forced labor)
• Self -election of the pastors by the villages

The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is an ideal opportunity for those interested to deal with this significant phase of history. Group tours can also be booked to learn more about the local background.

The opening took place in the small circle because both the mayor and the museum director were prevented. Nevertheless, the exhibition offers a lot of material for lively discussions and valuable knowledge about the uprising of the farmers and the associated social tensions that still have an impact today. Further information can be found on announcement .