Schloss Tenneberg, Medieval castle in Waltershausen, Germany

Schloss Tenneberg is a castle on the northern edge of the Thuringian Forest in Waltershausen, built on a horseshoe-shaped floor plan. Its walls and interior rooms show building phases that range from the medieval period to the Baroque era.

A castle of the Thuringian landgraves was first mentioned around 1176 as castrum nostrum; a burgmann Heidenreich von Tenneberg appears in 1168. Landgrave Balthasar bought back the parts held by co-heirs in 1391. Duke Johann Casimir had Peter Sengelaub rebuild it as a hunting palace, and from 1640 to 1646 Ernst I resided here while Friedenstein Palace was under construction.

The ceiling paintings in the great hall were made by court painter Johann Heinrich Ritter in the early 18th century and show scenes from ducal court life. Walking through these rooms gives a direct sense of how a Thuringian princely residence looked during the Baroque period.

The castle sits in the center of Waltershausen and is easy to reach on foot. Some staircases and floors inside are uneven, so sturdy footwear makes the visit more comfortable.

The castle keep served as a prison until 1565 for a woman known as the false Queen of England, who was held there until her death. Legend says her ghost still wanders the castle rooms.