Schloss Berleburg

Schloss Berleburg is a manor house in Schlitz featuring a half-timbered upper structure resting on a solid ground floor with gothic-inspired decorative details and twenty roof dormers. The building sits alongside two outbuildings: a former kitchen wing in half-timbering to the northeast and a smaller secondary structure to the southeast.

The manor was commissioned in 1859 by Franz von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and designed by architect Hugo von Ritgen as a residence for forest officials and nobility family members. This founding during the mid-19th century established it as an important rural estate within the region.

During World War II, the manor served as a detention facility for French prisoners, while the kitchen building was converted into a vocational school for domestic sciences afterwards. These transformations reflect how the estate adapted its purpose over time to meet changing social needs.

The estate is located in Schlitz and can be viewed from outside, with the half-timbered main structure and outbuildings visible from multiple vantage points. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when the architectural details are clearly visible.

The manor features a polygonal oriel tower topped with a slate-covered pointed roof and gothic tracery windows shaped like nun's heads, giving the facade a distinctive character. These carefully crafted details set it apart from typical manor designs of the period.

Location: Schlitz

GPS coordinates: 50.67095,9.55820

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47