Lantershofen Castle

Lantershofen Castle is a castle in Lantershofen in the lower Ahr valley in the district of Ahrweiler in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. It is one of the oldest Frankish settlements left of the Ahr in the district.

The first documented mention dates from July 1, 1019, when Emperor Henry II bequeathed "a possession Lantherishoffe inherited from the unlawfully deceased Giselinus, with all fields, meadows, forests, pastures, vineyards, water, watercourses and serfs" to Michelsberg Monastery near Bamberg. Presumably on Roman wall remains, a castle "auf der Schauer" was then built, which in 1372 the Archbishop of Cologne, Friedrich III von Saarwerden, had conquered and destroyed. Four years later, a new castle was built "am Blankart", which was owned by Gerhard von Blankart. Lantershofen was subservient, tribute- and tithe-bound to the Counts of Blankart, which is still commemorated by the square next to the church "im Frumech" (i.e. Fronplatz).

During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was partially destroyed by the Swedes in 1632, but later rebuilt. In 1672, marauders then completely destroyed the castle. With Maria Sophia Katharina Margarete von Blankart, the last Blankart died at the beginning of the 18th century. The castle went to Baron von Stickeneil, who had the present castle built in 1708. After a series of changes of ownership, Lantershofen Castle came into the possession of the Apostolate for Priestly and Religious Vocations in 1939. Under the direction of its director, Pastor August Dörner, the castle, which had partially fallen into disrepair, was renovated and put to its present use as a seminary (Studienhaus St. Lambert).