Rauenstein Castle

Rauenstein Castle evolved into the ancestral seat of the Schaumberg-Rauenstein line in the 14th century, after the Schaumbergers were forced to abandon their original property. Before 1340, a fortified structure possibly already existed at this location for administering the lands. In 1349, Regent Jutta von Henneberg granted permission for the expansion of the castle, then called Haus Ruhestein, on the condition that it serve the Hennebergers as an open fief. This agreement was renewed in 1351 by Margrave Friedrich the Strict of Meissen, making the castle also a Saxon male fief. The Schaumbergers quickly established themselves and expanded their sphere of influence. After 1632, the castle was abandoned by the Schaumbergers and partially destroyed by imperial troops in 1640. A castellan inhabited it until 1670 before moving to a new castle on the market square. Ducal master of the horse Hans Siegmund von Schaumberg regained full rights in 1687 and attempted to sell the castle, but failed. Instead, he had a new castle built at the foot of the old one. Rauenstein Castle gradually fell into disrepair until Duke Anton Ulrich of Saxe-Meiningen acquired the entire family estate in 1729, making Hans Siegmund the last Schaumberger at Rauenstein.