Fürstenstein Castle

Fürstenstein Castle is a hilltop castle at around 205 m above sea level on an elevation to the right of the Werra river near the Albungen district of the North Hessian district town of Eschwege in the Werra-Meißner district.

The castle was probably built in the 13th century by the Counts of Bilstein. Count Otto II of Bilstein († 1306), the last of his house, sold the Bilstein fiefs in 1301 and then also his allodial possessions to Landgrave Henry I of Hesse. Thus, Fürstenstein Castle also came to Hesse, but was subsequently pledged many times.

From 1344, the Lords Diede, originally probably castellans on the Boyneburg, were entitled to the castle. From 1596 until their extinction in the male line in 1807, they were the sole lords of the castle and lordship and called themselves Diede zum Fürstenstein.

In December 1807, after the death of the last Baron Diede zum Fürstenstein, King Jérôme of Westphalia confiscated Fürstenstein Castle and lordship as an expired fief and gave both to his favorite Pierre Alexandre le Camus, whom he simultaneously elevated to Count of Fürstenstein. With the end of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Westphalia, Fürstenstein returned to Electoral Hesse.