Friedelsheim Castle

The origins of Friedelsheim Castle likely date back to the 13th or 14th century, when it was built by the Lords of Bolanden. However, it was first documented in 1418 as being owned by Johann von Derne. In 1433, a Palatine official was appointed to the castle. In 1462, Count Palatine Friedrich I sold the complex to Heinrich Ulner von Dieburg, Abbot of Limburg. From 1575, Count Palatine Johann Casimir had the castle converted into a Renaissance palace. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was conquered by Spanish troops in 1632 and shortly thereafter by Swedish troops, suffering severe damage in fires. French troops almost completely destroyed it in 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession. After Franz Melchior von Wiser was enfeoffed with Friedelsheim in 1698, his son Franz Joseph von Wiser erected a Baroque successor building on the foundations. Following an inheritance division in 1708/09, the castle passed into the possession of the Wiser-Siegelsbach line. The castle was burned down again in 1794 during the First Coalition War.