Friedrichshof Castle (Kronberg)

Friedrichshof Castle was built from 1889 to 1894 as a widow's residence for the former German Empress Victoria (Empress Frederick) in the Neo-Gothic Tudor style, who named it "Friedrichshof" in honor of her deceased husband Frederick III.

Empress Frederick spent most of the year here until her death in 1901. The Empress bequeathed the castle with all its inventory, various art collections, and her written estate to her youngest daughter, Landgravine Margarethe of Hesse. The castle is now part of the Hessian House Foundation, the foundation of the Hessian princely house.

In 1945, the Hessian crown jewels, valued at 250 million dollars, were stolen here by American officers, dismantled into individual parts, and subsequently sold in Switzerland. After negotiations, the House of Hesse received the remaining jewels back. Part of the treasure is still missing to this day.

Today, the castle is used as a luxury hotel, which, together with the associated park grounds, belongs to the Hessian House Foundation. It is one of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World". In the hotel's rooms, large parts of the original furniture are still present, as well as artworks from Empress Victoria's collection. Her extensive library is also still available.

Parts of the castle park contain an 18-hole golf course belonging to the Golf- und Landclub Kronberg, while another part of the former castle park is a public city park.