Saarbrücken Castle and Casemate

In the year 999, a document was signed in Rome mentioning Saarbrücken Castle for the first time. With this document, Emperor Otto III presented the „Castellum Sarrabrucca“ to the diocese of Metz. The district princes and earls of the area, appointed by the bishop of Metz, would later become the first Counts of Saarbrücken. During the course of its long history, the castle was to be rebuilt several times and continually fortified. Around 1536, Count Johann IV had a moat built between castle and city. A few decades later, vaulted chambers known as casemates were built, perfectly shielded from enemy attacks. At the beginning of the 17th century, a Renaissance castle was erected, but even its fortified defence walls could not prevent it from being severely damaged in 1677...