Dehrn Castle

The origins of Dehrn Castle lie in the 12th century when the Counts of Diez had the castle built to secure a Lahn river crossing. In 1197, a castellan named Henricus Frio de Derne is mentioned for the first time. When the County of Weilnau split from Diez, the castle became the joint property of both lines. An event occurred in 1367 when the only male heir of the Counts of Diez was stabbed at the castle, leading to the extinction of the comital house. In the 16th century, the complex underwent palace-like alterations. After the extinction of the Frei von Dehrn family in 1737, the castle passed to the von Greiffenclau family and later to the House of Sturmfeder von Oppenweiler. In the 19th century, the Limburg merchant Trombetta acquired the castle, had it renovated and expanded, giving it its current appearance. Later, it came into the possession of the von Dungern family. After World War I, they lost their fortune, and the castle briefly served as a hotel, then as a reformatory, and later as a BDM camp and military hospital during World War II.