Schinderhannesturm

Beschreibung

The Schinderhannes Tower was part of the fortification of the castle. It was later used as a prison tower. The interior fittings were not added until 1750, as the examination of the ceiling beams has shown. But why Schinderhannesturm?

No ordinary criminal in the Hunsrück as well as in the areas on the right and left bank of the Rhine has such a legendary and enduring reputation as Johannes Bückler - known as Schinderhannes.His ancestors practiced the profession of the coverer, also known as Wasenmeister or Schinder. He was responsible for the disposal of dead animals. This profession was considered impure and was in the lowest social rank. After several moves, the family ended up in Veitsrodt. In Idar-Oberstein, 15-year-old Johannes Bückler committed his first crime. The money that an innkeeper had given him to buy brandy in Idar-Obersteinhe brought through with friends in taverns. For fear of punishment, he did not dare to go home. This was the beginning of a long series of crimes. Here are a few examples such as animal thefts, robberies, issuance of passports, road tolls. After his imprisonment and escape from prison in Simmern in 1799, he also committed murders.

Why the myth of Johannes Bückler, who was probably born in Miehlen in the Taunus in 1778, has persisted so permanently cannot be explained in historical facts. He was neither the Robin Hood of the Hunsrück, nor a successful bandit and fighter against the French occupying forces of the time.

Johannes Bückler was imprisoned in Idar-Oberstein, Simmern, Kirn and Herrstein. However, he was only in Herrstein for a few hours.After an escape attempt, he was discovered on the roof of the tower and brought to Oberstein. From there he made it to Saarbrücken, where he was able to escape with two other gang members. In Limburg an der Lahn he had enlisted in the imperial army, was recognized by a comrade, betrayed and passed on to the French army. occupiers. He was on trial in Mainz. About 400 witnesses were examined. 

Schinderhannes and 19 of his followers were sentenced to death by guillotine.

Schinderhannes was executed on 21 Nov. 1803 in Mainz.