page_title: Countess Palatine Francisca Christina of Sulzbach
section_title: Borbeck Castle
hierarchical_section_title: Countess Palatine Francisca Christina of Sulzbach / Life / Princess-Abbess / Princely household / Borbeck Castle
caption_attribution_description: Description: Castle Borbeck, coat of arms above the main portal Capture date: 23. Jul. 2005 Photographer: Sir Gawain
context_page_description: Countess Palatine Francisca Christina of Sulzbach was the Princess-abbess of Essen Abbey and Thorn Abbey. She led Essen Abbey from 1726 to 1776, the longest of any Essen abbess. Her tenure was marked by disputes between the Abbey and the city, which were caused by her counselors.
  She founded the Princess Francisca Christina Foundation, which still maintains the orphanage she founded in Essen-Steele. Her father was Theodore Eustace, Count Palatine of Sulzbach and her mother was Landgravine Maria Eleonore of Hesse-Rotenburg.
context_section_description: The residence of the princes-abbesses of Essen in the Essen abbey buildings were old and in a poor condition. The Baron of Duminique, who later organized the election of Francisca Christina's successor in 1776 as an envoy of the Saxon court, found himself forced, due to the moisture in the masonry, to ask the Jesuits next door to provide him accommodation.  Like many of her predecessors, Francisca Christina spent most of her time at Borbeck Castle.  She extended and renovated the castle between 1744 and 1762, resulting in the castle's present form.  She had the building extended on the south side by the court architect from the Palatinate court in Düsseldorf.  She put her coat of arms above the entrance door and created a 42-acre castle garden in the English garden style.
caption: The arms of Countess Palatine Francisca Christina of Sulzbach above the entrance of Borbeck Castle
exif: {}