Schloss Schönstein

The roughly triangular main building of Schönstein Castle is a typical perimeter castle in which the buildings are grouped around an inner courtyard. It has been built or restored from the Middle Ages to the present day, so the building history is rather convoluted. The brick façades built at the end of the 16th century stand out clearly from the older north wing made of quarry stone masonry.

Schönstein Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1255. From 1281, Sconensteyne Castle served as a pledge to the Archbishopric of Cologne. In 1589, Hermann von Hatzfeldt-Werther received the castle in recognition of his services. In the meantime, the castle had suffered greatly. In 1594 Hermann von Hatzfeldt-Werther put the sum for work on the castle at 16,000 gulden.
During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was occupied by Swedish troops, looted and set on fire, but rebuilt at the instigation of Wilhelm von Hatzfeld. Today Schönstein Castle is the administrative seat of the Hatzfeldt-Wildenburg administration and the residence of the Count Hatzfeldt family, so the interiors cannot be visited. Schönstein Castle hosts an annual Christmas market that is known beyond the region, as well as a serenade with the Mainz Chamber Orchestra and a jazz concert (Jazz im Schloss).

As part of the guided tour "The Chapel Trail", the castle chapel at Schönstein Castle is visited. You can book the guided tour at the Tourist Information Wisserland in the RegioBahnhof in Wissen (02742/2686; info@wisserlandtouristik.de).

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Opening hours

No interior tours possible, castle courtyard open all year.

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