Heidecksburg Castle

The origins of Heidecksburg date back to the 13th century, when a castle of the Counts of Orlamünde stood on this site. After its acquisition by the Counts of Schwarzburg in 1334, the complex was destroyed in the Thuringian Counts' War in 1345. A successor building was erected in the second half of the 14th century, from which a round tower in the stables is said to be preserved today. After a fire in 1573, a three-winged Renaissance castle was built, whose dimensions and location resembled the present complex. Another fire in 1735 led to the Baroque reconstruction. Under the direction of Johann Christoph Knöffel and later Gottfried Heinrich Krohne, a residence was built from 1737 onwards, intended to meet the representational demands of the princely house. The ballroom has curved walls and decorations.