Eichhof Castle

The construction of Eichhof Castle, initially known as the “Castle of the Oaks,” began in 1328 under Abbot Ludwig II of Hersfeld. It was built outside the city in the Fulda floodplain, likely named after a former oak forest. Construction was interrupted during the tenure of Abbot Johann II of Elben and only completed in 1372 under Abbot Berthold II of Völkershausen. In the following centuries, the castle served the abbots as a retreat during conflicts with the city and other feuds. In 1521, Martin Luther was a guest here on his journey from the Diet of Worms to Wartburg Castle. Between 1571 and 1588, under Abbot Ludwig V, a reconstruction in Renaissance style transformed the castle into a summer residence.