Schauenburg Castle (Ruin)

The origins of Schauenburg date back a long way, probably built between 600 and 800 AD, when the Hessian Gau was part of the Frankish Empire. It likely served as a refuge and residence and may have been part of the border fortifications against the Saxons. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1089 in a deed of donation from Helmarshausen Monastery, which also named the Counts of Schauenburg. These counts owned the high court of “Ditmelle” and were probably protectors of several villages and monasteries. The County of Schauenburg became embroiled in the conflict between the Landgraviate of Thuringia/Hesse and the Archbishopric of Mainz. In 1223, the Counts of Schauenburg accepted Wallenstein Castle as a fief. With the death of Count Berthold in 1252, the line of the Schauenburg counts died out. It is presumed that the castle was sold to the Diocese of Mainz no later than the first half of the 13th century.