North Tower - Schloss Drachenburg

15
Stone Store
When restoration work began in 1995, the entire park was
searched systematically for stone witnesses to the building
history of Schloss Drachenburg. Ashlars and other parts of
the original masonry were found scattered all over the site
where they had been dumped as rubble after the destruction
or the dismantling of the castle. Parts recovered included the
remains of the original main staircase and Art Gallery. The
main staircase and portico had been removed in the 1940s
and the Art Gallery had suffered heavy damage during the
Second World War.
Although no fewer than 800 natural quarry stones were rediscovered,
they then had to be transported back on diffi cult
terrain. In fact, the more remote areas of the park could only
be reached with the assistance of logging horses.
The stones were placed in provisory stores, numbered and
measured. In nearly all cases, it was found possible to ascertain
the original building purpose.
Depending on their condition, the stones – many hewn with
great artistic skill – were either re-instated or used by the
stonemasons as a model for faithful copies. Some of the
stones even allowed the reconstruction of complete sections
of building. Those belonging to the original cupola vault above
the Art Gallery, for example, acted as a template from which
the vault as a whole could be reconstructed.
Finally, on completion of the restoration work, a high-rack
store was erected to the west of the park to house the unused
ashlars.
Ashlars on park territory before
retrieval, photo 1994
Logging horse carrying stones,
photo 1995
Reconstructed portico at the
main entrance with original
ashlars at the pillar bases,
photo 2010