Burg Bibra

Burg Bibra is the ancestral home (Stammschloss) of the Bibra family. When the family became connected to Bibra is unclear but when written records became available nine hundred years ago, that was the case. It is the longest continuously owned castle in the state of Thuringia, partially due to the family keeping title during the Russian and East German time period. It reached it’s zenith around 1500 and was partially destroyed in the Peasant’s Revolt (1525) when interior “houses” (Kemenaten) (six) were destroyed. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) it was again partially destroyed with only one of the interior buildings surviving. The draw bridge by the Keep was destroyed in 1646. This one building (Kemenate) and the walls and towers are surviving parts. The keep, although in a shortened height, still exist opposite the wooded bridge. A chapel and archive exists in this tower. The living space by the entrance is relatively new. Near current main entrance there was a “escape tunnel”.

Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler Thüringens. STADT MEININGEN UND DIE LANDORTE [HEFT 34] 1909
wooden bridge and the Keep
by Wolf von Bibra, unsigned, sent image of Bibra entrance to Reinhard von Bibra about 1922, perhaps same view
photo from Prachtregion.de (uncredited 2024)
Schloss Bibra
Schloss Bibra
Schloss Bibra
Schloss Bibra
Schloss Bibra 2019
The surviving “Kemenate

Water color by Kemal Soso

Engraving from 1880 (Vol. 1) of Family History

Model of Bibra in Kloster Veßra by E Heß
I don’t know the information that was used to create the model. The only obvious shortcoming is the height of the keep (tower across from bridge). The thickness of the existing wall implies a taller structure.
Somewhat fanciful image from Family history
Schloss Bibra

German PDF on Bibra as a whole including section on Burg Bibra

English Translation PDF on Bibra as a whole including section on Burg Bibra

Translated information from the book 500 Jahre St. -Leeo- Kirche zu Bibra

Das Kastell Bibra (in German) Page of this website has information on Burg Bibra history including old photographs including those below.

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Of the six “Kemnate”s, only one survived, #1 which was enlarged and remodeled in the early 1900’s (see photos)
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The castle had at one point six apartments as it was shared by whole family. Note #1, the Kemnate.
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The Kemnate in 1905.
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The Kemnate in 1908 after adding on to the back and reworking the top.
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The Kemnate (on the left) in 1903.
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an 1880 photograph
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