Indian Chief Travel Guides

Schloss Braunfels

Schloss Braunfels, has an 800-year history, but most of the current castle dates from the mid-19th century. In 1679, a major fire destroyed the castle and most of the town. The count subsequently erected a Baroque residence. However, during the romantic period of the mid-19th century, the residence was converted into a Neo-Gothic castle and the knight’s hall rebuilt according to the original plans. In 1880, the towers were added, giving the castle its characteristic silhouette and nickname as the Neuschwanste in of Hesse.

The interior of the castle can only be seen on a guided tour, which includes the knight’s hall, with medieval weaponry, and several other rooms full of porcelain, paintings, and other art works. One famous painting is of a group of deer – no matter from which angle it is viewed, the groups always seem to be storming straight at the viewer. Some of the former counts are described as if you should have read about them in last week’s People magazine, but one former resident actually did play a role in European politics: Amalie, née Countess zu Solms-Braunfels, was the mother of William II of Orange and thus the grandmother of William III, who became King of England in 1688.