Kerpen Castle

The first documented mention of Kerpen Castle dates back to 1359, when Dietrich V von Kerpen held it as a fief from the Counts of Saarwerden. It is believed that the complex existed earlier, possibly coming to the Saarland through the marriage of his father Dietrich IV to Geneta von Warsberg. In the 16th century, feudal sovereignty passed to the Counts of Saarbrücken, and Illingen gained the status of a free imperial lordship. Around 1620, the castle reached its peak expansion with the construction of an outer bailey. After its destruction in the Thirty Years' War, it was rebuilt under Johann Daniel von Kerpen. In 1677, the castle again suffered severe damage from French troops, leading to a lengthy reconstruction well into the 18th century.