Ludwigsthal Castle

The three underage sons Christoph, Wilhelm, and Ferdinand received a good education. In Prague, they met the student Josef Klostermann (father of the writer Karel Klostermann). Dr. Klostermann later became the company doctor at the Abele glassworks. When Christoph came of age, he took over the management of the business. Later, Ferdinand managed the business in Ludwigsthal and Wilhelm in Deffernik. They were young and inexperienced. They also lived lavishly and thus increasingly fell into debt. Ferdinand's wealthy father-in-law, the Bohemian landowner Veith, lent them money until they were finally completely over-indebted. When Veith himself ran into financial difficulties – he financed the construction of the Czech Walhalla, the Slavin – he demanded his money back. As a result, the Abele concern collapsed. Wilhelm was able to buy Ludwigsthal in 1844 with money from his second wife, Elisabeth von Hafenbrädl. In 1851, Wilhelm died (leaving behind 5 children).

Wilhelm's widow married Hans von Streber, an unscrupulous and wasteful man, 4 years later (1855). In 1856, just one year after the marriage, she apparently committed suicide. On the night of her death, Dr. Josef Klostermann was with her. In 1857, Streber married his first wife's sister, Franziska von Hafenbrädl, who had previously lived at Ludwigsthal Castle. Fanny was 9 years older than Streber and, according to Klostermann, was gentle and listless. But she was wealthy, which Streber probably found most attractive about her. At some point, however, Fanny's fortune was also depleted. The glassworks estate and all its possessions were auctioned off in 1861. Benedikt von Poschinger had acquired the estate. Shortly thereafter, he sold it to the Zwiesel butcher Josef Pauli. The castle is still owned by his descendants today.

The castle received great honor when, in 1876, the Wittelsbach Prince Otto, a brother of King Ludwig II, resided in the castle for 13 weeks. After the tragic death of Ludwig II in 1886, Otto I became King of Bavaria. However, due to his mental illness, he was unable to conduct official business.

Ludwigsthal Castle has lost its splendor. After a fire in 1916, the building was converted into workers' apartments. The formerly magnificent Hall of Mirrors was partitioned in 1946. Displaced persons from Bohemia were quartered there.

Since January 1, 2008, the Pro Nationalpark Zwiesel association has leased the castle. Extensive renovation is planned.