Wilhelmsburg Castle, Renaissance royal palace in Schmalkalden, Germany
The four-winged castle stands on a hill above the medieval town center, featuring a square floor plan with outdoor parade grounds and gardens.
Construction began in 1584 under Landgrave William IV of Hesse-Kassel, replacing the former Waltaff Castle and reaching completion in 1618.
The castle church, designed by Willem Vernukken in 1590, established a new layout for Protestant worship with altar, pulpit, and organ arranged vertically.
The museum opens daily from April to October between 10:00 and 18:00, and Tuesday through Sunday from November to March between 10:00 and 16:00.
The Renaissance organ in the castle chapel remains one of Central Europe's oldest functioning wooden instruments, dating from the castle's inauguration in 1590.
Location: Schmalkalden
Inception: 1584
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
Address: Schloßberg 9, 98574 Schmalkalden
GPS coordinates: 50.72306,10.45583
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:35
Thuringia contains a notable variety of historic sites, from medieval castles on wooded heights to baroque palaces in landscaped parks. The region preserves Romanesque monastic complexes such as Paulinzella, Renaissance residences including Wilhelmsburg in Schmalkalden, and significant collections like the Lindenau Museum in Altenburg. Beyond architectural landmarks, Thuringia offers geological features: the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes are considered the most colorful show mine in the world, the Barbarossa Cave near Rottleben is one of Europe's largest anhydrite caves, and the Morassina healing caves in Schmiedefeld have served therapeutic purposes since the 19th century. Cultural institutions range from technical museums such as the Ziegenrück hydroelectric power museum to the Apolda bell foundry museum and botanical installations like the Japanese garden in Bad Langensalza. Historic transportation systems including the Oberweissbach mountain railway, which has covered a vertical rise of 1,060 feet (323 meters) since 1923, complement the offerings. Natural monuments such as the Dragon Gorge near Eisenach, a narrow ravine with rock walls reaching 33 feet (10 meters) in height, and viewpoints like Leuchtenburg above the Saale valley combine natural and cultural experiences.
Stadtkirche St. Georg (Schmalkalden)
385 m
Neue Hütte
3.1 km
Wallenburg
6.8 km
Lutherplatz 7
193 m
Todenwarth
6.6 km
Totenhofskirche
751 m
Altmarkt 5
335 m
Unserer Lieben Frauen
7.1 km
St. Helena (Schmalkalden)
632 m
Church Floh
3.7 km
Dorfkirche Trusetal
7.5 km
Jüdischer Friedhof Schmalkalden
1.2 km
Protestant Church Asbach
2.4 km
Church Haindorf
3 km
Kemenate Schwallungen
7.7 km
Protestant Church Niederschmalkalden
5.9 km
Protestant Church (Springstille)
6.3 km
St. Jakobus (Fambach)
7.3 km
Church Rotterode
7.1 km
Protestant Church Möckers
4.6 km
War memorial Seligenthal (Floh-Seligenthal)
4.6 km
Museum Schloss Wilhelmsburg
35 m
Church Seligenthal
4.6 km
Church Schnellbach
4.8 km
Protestant Church Breitenbach
4.6 km
Werra bis Treffurt mit Zuflüssen
7.4 km
War memorial in Haindorf (Schmalkalden)
3.1 km
War memorial Rotterode
7 kmReviews
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