Schloss Thienhausen, water castle in Steinheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Schloss Thienhausen is a two-storey, two-winged water castle of the Weser Renaissance in Rolfzen, a district of Steinheim, built in 1609. The older north wing retains masonry from a previous structure. A square stair tower with three remaining storeys stands in the inner angle, and a round tower with a conical roof marks the outer corner. The south wing has a stepped gable with a Madonna and Child statue at the second-floor level.
The castle was built in 1609 by Tönnies Wolf von Haxthausen and incorporated elements from an earlier structure. A fire in 1905 led to restoration work that brought it to its present state.
Writer Friedrich Wilhelm Weber lived at the castle from 1867 to 1887 and composed his notable work 'Dreizehnlinden' during his time here. The residence thus became tied to this important literary period in the region's cultural history.
The property now serves as an event venue and houses a branch of Steinheim's civil registry office. Visitors should be aware that access is primarily arranged for private functions and official ceremonies rather than general touring.
The Madonna and Child statue on the south wing sits at second-storey level beneath a stepped gable; the matching gable on the north wing was removed in the 19th century, so only this one survives. The castle was sold at auction in March 2017 with about 140 hectares of forest and farmland.
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