Halberg Castle

Between 1709 and 1711, Count Ludwig Kraft von Nassau-Saarbrücken had the Baroque pleasure palace “Monplaisir” built on the then-unwooded Halberg, offering views of the Saar cities. In 1755, the complex was expanded and redesigned under Friedrich Joachim Stengel, creating a princely menagerie and a vineyard. By 1772, a Mithras sanctuary was integrated into the garden landscape. Princess Wilhelmine used the castle as a retreat and raised her son, Hereditary Prince Heinrich, there. During the Coalition Wars, the complex was completely destroyed on November 17, 1793. Prince Heinrich, who died in exile, stipulated in his will that he wished to be buried at the site of his childhood, a wish fulfilled in 1976. From 1875, Carl Ferdinand Stumm acquired the land and, between 1877 and 1880, had a Neo-Gothic castle built there according to designs by Edwin Oppler. The surrounding landscape park was redesigned by Heinrich Siesmayer.