Irmelshausen Castle, Irmelshausen, Germany

Irmelshausen, on the old border between East and West Germany, is one of the most appealing castles in this region of Germany (Franconia). Irmelshausen is first mentioned in the year 800 when Emhild, the Abbess of Milz and a relative of Charlemagne, gave the village to the Counts of Henneberg. In 1354, upon the marriage of Countess Elisabeth with the Count Eberhard of Württemberg, the village was sold to the Bishopric of Würzburg. Twenty-two years later the bishopric transferred it to Berthold von Bibra. Since that time, it has been greatly enlarged and has been one of the main seats of the Bibra family. Parts of the castle were previously taller but during a remodeling in 1854 the half-timbered sections were lowered to the present height.

Until recently it was the site of the Bibra family archives which were fortunately moved to Irmelshausen from Bibra prior to the German Peasants' War in 1524-25. The second seat of the von Bibra family, through diplomacy it escaped attack and destruction in both the Peasants' War of 1525 and the Thirty Years' War of 1618-48 when almost all the surrounding castles were taken and sacked.

It is said that the first enemy soldier to enter the castle during World War II did so on April 8, 1945. The American Col. Vennard Wilson was served tea, noted the contents of the castle and ordered it off limits to troops.

The castle itself, the two farms and the forest is owned by the Bibra family (older and younger lines) and the adopted daughter of the Bibra family who is by birth a Guttenberg and by marriage a Stauffenberg.

Besides the five-sided castle, the late Gothic church with its numerous and beautiful Bibra gravestones from the 16th and 17th centuries is worth visiting.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Karina Fon (4 months ago)
We spent four days in the forester's apartment. The apartment is furnished true to style and with attention to detail. Everything your heart desires is available: oven, coffee machine, kettle, milk frother, board games, Books for different age groups, WiFi, oil, various spices, even coffee capsules or powder are available. The hosts are very personable, are always available to answer questions and can also give good tips on current events, markets, etc. Our four-legged friends could also use the beautiful castle garden to run around. Two-legged friends also get their money's worth here: seating, fireplace, swing, trampoline, snag line, grill,... It was really a successful break in a unique atmosphere. We'd love to come back.

Franziska W. (8 months ago)
We felt completely comfortable with our four-legged friend in the Förster domicile for a week. We didn't miss anything in the lovingly furnished holiday apartment. The location is great, very idyllic. We got a lot of tips for excursions and used them. Thank you again for that. We were thrilled and it was actually a vacation in Upper Franconian Tuscany. We are happy to recommend this romantic accommodation.

Maya A. (10 months ago)
If you would like to live in a castle and love long walks with your four-legged friend, this is the right place for you. Several complete apartments are rented in the castle. Our apartment has been furnished with great attention to detail. The apartment combines the original with modern technology in a very pleasant way. I recommend bringing food with you. And you should be able to live without a TV for a while... But you don't need that here for this little, very relaxing break in the country.

Walter Raubel (2 years ago)
The castle is nice to look at. However, you shouldn't get too close from the outside. We got lost on the bikes and ended up in the castle garden. Were treated quite rudely. Yes, it is private property. But it wasn't obvious from the side we came from.

Christopher Schäffler (2 years ago)
We spent a very nice time in the wonderful Beletage holiday apartment at Irmelshausen Castle. The hosts are very friendly and you feel at home as soon as you arrive. In the spacious holiday apartment, every room has a wonderfully harmonious combination of historical furniture and modern elements. Nothing was missing in the kitchen. We are looking forward to the next time, because we would definitely like to come back!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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