Breidenstein Castle

Breidenstein Castle is a castle built between 1712 and 1714 on the remains of the medieval Breidenstein Castle in Breidenstein, Marburg-Biedenkopf district in Central Hesse.

The castle ruin is located on the outskirts of Breidenstein. The castle was a spur castle above the Perf river. Directly next to the castle, a palace and a villa were built. The castle ruins, the palace, and the villa are still owned by the von Breidenbach family.

The complex dates back to the Lords of Breidenbach, first mentioned in 1213. They held dominion over Breidenstein and Breidenbach. During the conflicts between Electoral Mainz and the Landgraviate of Hesse in the late 13th century, they attempted to establish an independent rule. To secure this, they built castles in Breidenstein, Breidenbach, and near the Rossebach farm (near Breidenbach). In 1304, the Lords of Breidenbach became Hessian castellans at Biedenkopf Castle. In 1353, the family was the pledgee of the Hessian offices of Marburg and Biedenkopf.

Breidenstein Castle was built between 1387 and 1394. The construction was preceded by a failed castle construction in 1387 near Eisenhausen in today's municipality of Steffenberg. The Breidenbachs transferred the castle to Landgrave Herman II of Hesse as early as 1395 and subsequently received it back as a Hessian fief. With the construction of the castle, the town of Breidenstein was also founded. As early as 1398, King Wenceslaus granted the town city rights.

Between 1712 and 1714, the von Breidenbach zu Breidenstein family built the present-day palace.

In 1910, a villa was added to the complex.