Thorn Castle (Palzem)

Thorn Castle is a former castle complex, converted into a castle, located within the district of Schloss Thorn in the municipality of Palzem in the Trier-Saarburg district in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Thorn Castle dominates the access to the Moselle Valley and the Saargau from a hill carved out by the Moselle and the Kreuzweiler Bach. It forms the southwestern corner of the Trier-Saarburg district.

Thorn Castle originated from the remains of a medieval castle, presumably rectangular and fortified with round corner towers. As a fief of the Lords of Rollingen (hereditary marshals of Luxembourg), it belonged to the Lords of Bübingen until the 16th century. The castle, which was falling into disrepair at the end of the 15th century, was rebuilt in 1536 by the new owner, except for two towers and part of the curtain wall. In 1800, with the construction of the new manor house, it transformed into a castle complex, and the former defensive structures were redesigned into garden terraces.