Schloss Berleburg
Above the town of Bad Berleburg lies a Schloss by the very same name (minus the 'Bad' part) that has been in the possession of the (ancestors of the) Sayn-Wittgenstein family for more than 700 years. It is actually one of the few castles with a similar age that have been owned by the same family for the entire time of its existence.
The House of Sayn-Wittgenstein was created through the marriage of heiress Countess Adelheid of Wittgenstein and Count Salentin of Sayn-Homburg of the House of Sponheim in 1345. The two counties of Sayn and Wittgenstein, however, only merged some 40 years later when their son inherited them both. Later the family split into three main branches, the Houses of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. Not too hard to guess, it is the first and genealogically most senior one of the three branches who owns Schloss Berleburg today.
Originally co-owned by Count Siegfried I of Wittgenstein and Adolf I of Grafschaft, the origins of what today is known as Schloss Berleburg were built during the 13th centuries as a hill castle. The co-sovereignty of the Wittgensteins and Grafschafts ended when Widekind of Grafschaft waived his rights to the town and castle in favour of Count Siegfried II of Wittgenstein in 1332. Count Siegfried was the father of aforementioned Countess Adelheid, heiress of the Wittgenstein family.
The House of Sayn-Wittgenstein was created through the marriage of heiress Countess Adelheid of Wittgenstein and Count Salentin of Sayn-Homburg of the House of Sponheim in 1345. The two counties of Sayn and Wittgenstein, however, only merged some 40 years later when their son inherited them both. Later the family split into three main branches, the Houses of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. Not too hard to guess, it is the first and genealogically most senior one of the three branches who owns Schloss Berleburg today.
Originally co-owned by Count Siegfried I of Wittgenstein and Adolf I of Grafschaft, the origins of what today is known as Schloss Berleburg were built during the 13th centuries as a hill castle. The co-sovereignty of the Wittgensteins and Grafschafts ended when Widekind of Grafschaft waived his rights to the town and castle in favour of Count Siegfried II of Wittgenstein in 1332. Count Siegfried was the father of aforementioned Countess Adelheid, heiress of the Wittgenstein family.
During the 16th century, Schloss Berleburg was extensively altered and expanded by way of constructing a new two-storey northern wing between 1555 and 1557 for example. A few years later, a new gatehouse was built. Major changes to the Schloss were
also made during the 18th century when, at the behest of Count Casimir,
a three-storey middle wing was constructed in 1731. (Some changes to
the middle wing were made almost two centuries later in 1902.) In addition, a so-called Corps de Logis was built according to plans of Julius Ludwig Rothweil between 1732 and 1739.
The last major changes to the castle were made in 1911 when two new
flanking towers as well as a new staircase designed by Friedrich von
Thiersch were built.
To this day, Schloss Berleburg is owned and inhabited by members of the Princely Family of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg whose most famous member probably is the current Fürstin and sister of the Danish Queen, Princess Benedikte. Nevertheless, the Schloss is open to visitors for most part of the year. Unfortunately, my visits to Bad Berleburg have been during exactly those times of the year when it wasn't open. However, I did manage to see a bit of the castle and its surrounding park during one of those visits which was on the occasion of the Bad Berleburger WeihnachtsZeitreise, a Christmas market featuring Medieval, Baroque and Biedermeier era crafts and stands.
Good to know:
Schloss Berleburg is privately owned and thus only open to visitors during certain times which differ each month. While it is generally possible to visit between January and October, check out their website for exact visiting hours and more information. Admission is 5 euros per adult and 1.50 euros per child.
