Kirchheimbolanden Castle

The origins of the complex date back to 1390, when it was first documented as a castle. Between 1602 and 1618, the Counts of Nassau-Weilburg, whose main residence was Weilburg an der Lahn, built a first castle outside the city walls. Under Prince Carl-August of Nassau-Weilburg, a new building was erected from 1738 to 1740. Guillaume d'Hauberat, who also worked on Mannheim and Schwetzingen Castles, was commissioned as the architect. A terraced castle garden was planned, with its irrigation to be fed by canals from nearby copper mines – parts of these canals are still preserved today. In 1793, Prince Friedrich-Wilhelm of Nassau-Weilburg fled Kirchheimbolanden due to the French occupation of Mainz, ending the princely residential function and the rule of the Nassaus. In 1807, the castle became French national property and was auctioned in Mainz. The textile manufacturer Daniel Andreas acquired it, had the central building and the left wing demolished, and moved into the remaining right wing. After the end of French rule, the region fell to Bavaria in 1816.