Gehren Castle (Ruin)

The first buildings (roughly in the form of a watchtower) probably originated here as early as the 12th century on a trade route from Erfurt to Nuremberg. In 1308, the Lords of Berlstedt erected some further buildings here (north wing), which passed into the possession of the Counts of Schwarzburg in 1464. They built the south wing during this period. From 1574, the castle was expanded in the Renaissance style and the north and south wings were united into a single structure. For this purpose, sandstone ashlar from the abandoned Paulinzella monastery was partly used. The castle chapel was built in 1666. Subsequently, the castle served as a hunting and summer residence for the Counts and Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Prince Günther I even used it as a residence between 1720 and 1740. In 1918, it passed into the possession of the State of Thuringia and was predominantly used as a residential building. In a fire on September 11, 1933, the castle was destroyed and largely demolished in the following years, so that only remnants of some surrounding walls remain. Between 1997 and 2001, the ruin was secured, partially restored and made accessible. It is surrounded by the extensive castle park in the style of an English garden.