Oranienstein Castle

The origins of Oranienstein Castle date back to 1672, when it was built on the ruins of the former Benedictine monastery of Dierstein. It served as a dowager's residence for Countess Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau. Between 1704 and 1709, under Henriette Amalie, Albertine's daughter-in-law, the castle underwent a transformation into a Baroque palace. The plans for this came from Daniel Marot, a French architect who also contributed to Versailles. During this period, the five-winged building was created, adorned with stucco by Eugenio Castelli and Antonio Gentone, and frescoes by Jan van Dyk. After 1743, Oranienstein temporarily lost its importance as a residence, but was used again from 1801 by William V of Orange, who also commissioned Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell for the garden design.