Wilhelmsburg Castle Pond Schmalkalden

I find the pond less pretty. But the castle is a real highlight, especially with its museum

Wilhelmsburg Castle in the town of Schmalkalden was a secondary residence of the Landgraves of Hesse. It is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Central Germany, which has hardly undergone any structural changes to date and has been preserved almost in its original condition.

HistoryEditIn 1583, the Landgraves of Hesse became the sole owners of the Schmalkalden domain, which had until then been ruled jointly with the Counts of Henneberg. William IV of Hesse immediately elevated the town of Schmalkalden to one of his secondary residences. He had the 12th-century Waltaff Castle torn down and in 1584 began construction of the palace named after him in its place. On 23 May 1590, the palace church was consecrated and the palace was put into use, although the interior was not yet completely finished. The Landgrave had the mobile furnishings brought from Kassel. William's son Moritz stayed in Schmalkalden very often and for long periods of time; under his management, the palace complex with farm buildings and the terraced garden was finally completed by 1618. Only used occasionally under Moritz's successors, the palace was finally abandoned completely at the beginning of the 19th century.