Frankenstein Castle

The first documented mention of the name Frankenstein occurred in 1146 by Helenger von Frankenstein. However, historians presume that the castle was founded earlier, around 1100, with the construction of a tower by Limburg Monastery, which was tasked with securing the surrounding routes. In 1205, the monastery transferred this duty to the Counts of Leiningen, who expanded the complex in the early 13th century. From around 1390, Frankenstein evolved into a co-owned castle (Ganerbenburg) when the monastery mortgaged half of the castle to the Lords of Einselthum. Later, the Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken and Leiningen-Hardenburg also acquired shares. In the 15th century, the castle was damaged during conflicts between Elector Friedrich I and Count Ludwig I. Further destruction followed in 1512 and during the German Peasants' War in 1525, after which the castle was considered uninhabitable from 1560.