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medieval kitchen
 

This kitchen was installed in the 12th century in between the old hall, the chapel and the outer wall of the castle - thus explaining the irregular plan of the place.

In later times a second storey was build on top, forming an appartment (for the kitchen personnel?), which was accessible via a wooden staircase from here.

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This "old" kitchen was put in place to provide food to the court of the counts of Vianden, residing first in the old hall, then in the so called "small palace" (knight's study, Armoury, Gallery).

 

With the construction of the so called "large palace" (great hall) and the "new" main kitchen, this place lost it's purpose. It was nevertheless still in use as a kitchen until the end of the 17th century; probably to provide the garrison with food.

 

In the 14th century a third kitchen (the Julich kitchen) was installed, probably for the needs of the castle administration. Nowadays nothing can be seen anymore of this one.

 

So there have been three different kitchens inside the main block of the castle, covering (with their dependencies) more than 400 square metres!

food stores

the construction of the outer wall of the castle (on arcades to protect from sapping) made it possible to insert "niches" inside the thick masonry. These were mainly used as food stores, the one on the left  was also used as scullery while on the very right a door leeds to a shaft in which a lift was installed to get up fire logs and other materials for the need of the kitchen.

grain baskets

Grain was stored in baskets for ready use, and ground in a handmill when needed (original baskets from 19th century).

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copper kettle

Big copper kettles were used for many purposes, e.g. brewing beer (original 19th century)

cheese press

Spare milk was transformed into a more durable provision by cheese making. In the press excess water was wrought out of the fresh cheese (original).

drink water bottle

These clay bottles had no glazing, so water evaporated through the vessel which created a cooling effect (reproduction).

Aquamanile

The aquamanile is a handwashing vessel, used before and during meals (reproduction 14th century aquamanile).

"Sturzbecher" (dashing gobelet)
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Ceremonial cup which can't be put down while containing liquid, thus forcing the holder of drinking the whole content in one swallow.

furnace

This furnace was fired from the chimney side while the bakery products could be handled from behind (side of lift shaft). The smoke from the furnace fire escaped through a hole to the chimney.

fireplace

In the 12th century cooking took place over an open fire lit on the floor (beneath the chimney). Note that the level of the fireplace is the original height of the floor of the whole room. While the fireplace was covered in stone the floor of the rest of the room was made of timber. Later this was changed (and the floor level lowered?) and the floor covered with grey sandstone  (nowadays slate).

clay pots & kettles

The first cooking vessels were made out of clay and put into the fire or embers. Some had feet (Grapen type) so they easily could be placed over a small fire or embers (on display: reproductions).

pot hook & kettle

Beside clay vessels copper and iron kettles were in use in the high mddle ages. These metal pots could be hung over the fire by a pot hook which could be changed in height over the fire. (on display: reproductions).

frying pan

Pans would be placed over the heat of a fire with the help of a tripod. This pan is original, the tripod is a reproduction.

hand mill

Grain would be stored at the castle and ground as needed in the ban mill near the river, or in times of danger with a small hand mill (on display: reproduction). In the late 12th / early 13th century a big treadmill replaced the handmill, this again to be replaced by the 14th century with a larger hand mill. In the 17th century 2 handmills were in use; one of the millstones can still be seen on the floor in the passage from the knight's study to the lower chapel.

dough trough

Dough troughs are nedded in the kitchen to prepare the dough for pasties, pies etc. (on display: original).

churn

Butter was made out of cream by pumping up and down the stick. This was hard work and lasting a long time (on display: original 19th century).

clay drinking vessels 14th century

Jugs and cups in 14th century style pottery. The one in front is a copy of the archeological finds on display in the archeological crypt (adjacent room) (on display: reproductions).

clay drinking vessels type "Pingsdorf"

This pottery was in use from the 9th to the 13th century (on display: reproductions).

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