back to overview
Schloss Hirschhorn
Schloss Hirschhorn
Daily 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.;
Outdoor area freely accessible
Hirschhorn Castle in the Neckar Valley was built in the mid-13th century on a ridge between the Neckar and Finkenbach valleys as the seat of power for the Lords of Hirschhorn. The original core of the castle, consisting of a keep, residential and farm buildings, and a shield wall, occupied only about one-twelfth of its current area. It was expanded in the 14th century, and in 1350 the castle chapel was consecrated, its north wall decorated with frescoes depicting the Passion of Christ. The complex grew into a small cosmos with knights, castle staff, stables, a smithy, and a bakery. In the 16th century, the castle was increasingly transformed into a representative palace, including gardens and the Renaissance building “Hatzfeldbau.” After the Hirschhorn family died out, the complex passed to Mainz and, from 1803, to Hesse-Darmstadt. Restorations from the 19th century onwards and recent conservation measures have made the façade, interiors, and architectural paintings visible again. Today, Hirschhorn Castle presents itself as a living testimony to its eventful history of construction and use, including the use of the castle chapel as a registry office.