Wächtersbach Castle

Wächtersbach Castle is a lowland castle at about 170 m above sea level in Wächtersbach (Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hesse).

Wächtersbach Castle dates back to a Staufer hunting and security complex, built towards the end of the 12th century on behalf of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. The settlement that emerged under the protection of this complex is first mentioned in 1236 in a document from the nearby Selbold Monastery (cf. Langenselbold), which owned land and income here. At this time, the place was called Weichirsbach, which means "the stream that feeds the ponds". In the 13th century, the complex was converted into a moated castle; remnants of the water areas that once surrounded it are still visible today with the ponds in the castle park. In 1324, the castle is first mentioned in a document. As part of the security facilities for the old royal land of Wetterau, the fortress served to protect the castle complexes in Gelnhausen (→ Gelnhausen Imperial Palace) and Büdingen (→ Büdingen Castle). In 1578, the princely brewery Wächtersbach was founded (finally closed in 2008). After the division of the County of Isenburg in 1684, the castle became the seat of the newly founded line Isenburg-Wächtersbach from 1687 under Count Ferdinand Maximilian I. Its members built the Rentkammer (chamber of accounts), stables, Princess's House, and a farmyard.

At the beginning of the 19th century, an English-style park was laid out around the old building. The castle park contains rare trees that were planted for "testing purposes", as the Princes of Ysenburg were active in forestry and thus studied the growth and yield of the respective trees under local climatic conditions. As a result, a variety of different, non-native trees can still be found in the park today. Directly at the castle is a ginkgo tree over one hundred and fifty years old, which was a curiosity and attraction at the time of planting.