Neunheilingen Castle

The first documented mention of Neunheilingen occurred in records of Fulda Monastery in 1158. Until 1638, the village and castle/palace belonged to the Lords of Heilingen. Then the von Werthern family took possession. In 1716, a new palace was built (the current one). Countess Johanna "Jeannette" Luise von Werthern was a highly educated lady who inspired Duke Carl August and Goethe. Both visited Neunheilingen Palace in 1781. Goethe immortalized his visit there in "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship". Until 1819, the von Wertherns resided at the palace and estate. In that year, an arson fire destroyed 84 of the village's 120 houses. After several changes of ownership, the palace belonged to the Limpert family until the end of the 1940s, then to the municipality. During the GDR era, the palace housed apartments, a kindergarten, the municipal office, and a library. After the political change in 1990, the building was partially renovated, receiving a new roof and new windows. Then the municipality was financially overwhelmed. The palace was auctioned in Leipzig in 2000, and a Mr. von den Driesch-Wirtz acquired the building. Unfortunately, no further construction work has been done on the vacant building since then (2011), but the park is maintained by the municipality.