Diez Castle

The origins of Grafenschloss Diez date back a long time. A Frankish military station presumably existed as early as 790, at the time of the first mention of the place as “Theodissa”. The keep and the palas were probably built in the second half of the 11th century, before 1073, by the Counts of Diez. In 1329, Diez was granted town rights. After a division of the County of Diez, the castle remained in the joint possession of both lines. Construction work took place at the end of the 13th century under Hermann von Weilnau. With the death of the last Count of Diez in 1386, the castle passed by inheritance to the House of Nassau-Dillenburg. After further inheritances and pledges, the House of Nassau-Dillenburg gained sole rule in the Treaty of Diez in 1564. Under the Nassau counts, the castle was transformed into an early modern princely palace, with Dutch craftsmen being preferentially employed.