Untermerzbach Castle

The origins of the castle likely date back to a high medieval castle of the Lords of Merzbach, which already stood on the current castle hill. After the extinction of this lineage in the 13th or 14th century, the property passed to the von Rotenhan family. The core of the current castle building is said to go back to Kunz II, with a sandstone slab on the north tower indicating 1534 as the construction date. Under Karl Alexander, who lived from 1710 to 1777, the Merzbach line was elevated to count status. To distinguish themselves from their baronial relatives, the counts added a second 't' to their name and were henceforth known as Counts of Rottenhan. In the second half of the 18th century, the old castle underwent extensive renovation to become an early classicist country estate.