Schloss Wissen, the ancestral home of the family von Loë is one of the most well-known noble seats on the Lower Rhine. The extensive castle complex looks back on a century old history which began in the 12th-13th century with the erection of a defence tower (presently the south wing of the main building). During the course of the centuries, a three-winged outer bailey was added to the main building and continuously adapted to the tastes of the respective times.
Schloss Wissen owes its current form to a comprehensive restoration executed from 1969 to 1973. Some of the generously and elaborately restored venues such as the White Salon and the Large Dining Room can, today, be utilised for conferences, as well as for weddings, company celebrations, family ceremonies or team events. The Historic Watermill is located in front of the gates of the castle. The Watermill disposes of two seminar rooms which can, if necessary, be combined to form one large conference venue / ballroom for up to 80 persons. The view of the surrounding green landscape and of the outer bailey imparts the Historic Watermill with additional charm.
Some of the buildings of the servants’ quarters, which also form part of the castle complex, were transformed into guesthouses with lovingly decorated rooms and apartments.
References:The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.
Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.