Oranienstein Palace, Diez, Germany

Schloss Oranienstein is one of the palaces of the House of Orange-Nassau, sited at Diez on the Lahn. It was built on the ruins of Dierstein Abbey between 1672 and 1681 for Countess Albertine Agnes of Nassau after she was widowed.

After the French Republican invasion destroyed the Dutch Republic in 1795, stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange and his family first fled to England, before settling in Oranienstein for several years. Here, William and his son William Frederick issued the Oranienstein Letters, recognising the Batavian Republic and renouncing their stadtholderate and territorial claims in the Netherlands in return for financial and territorial compensation elsewhere, granted by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte.

After the annexation of the Duchy of Nassau by Prussia in 1866, the palace was given to the Prussian army the following year. It is still today occupied by the Bundeswehr, together with adjacent barracks, but also houses a museum.

References:

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User Reviews

Diana Haas (4 months ago)
A hidden, very well maintained old Dutch jewel. It is a military area and they offer tours at fixed times. Look online for this. Free parking in front of the wall/fence. Not at the barrier. After passport control you can continue. The friendly guide speaks German and Dutch.

Dirk Kolter (16 months ago)
Great castle? In the care of the Bundeswehr. She also takes great care of it. The tour of the complex and castle is only possible with prior reservation as it is located within a military area. But it's not a problem in the short term either. The tour was carried out with a lot of enthusiasm and commitment. Our daughters were also thrilled. Great, keep it up

Ursula Hipper (16 months ago)
Beautiful park and picturesque castle, inside a large chapel with an organ and a ballroom in Prussian blue. The mantels are of local marble quarried until the 1980's. This marble is used in the Emoire State Building and in the Vatican and Saint Petersburg. In the park there is a tree more than 250 years old.

Thomas Hartmann (18 months ago)
Super Location

Wouter van de Ridder (18 months ago)
Gorgeous castle in a beautiful location. The funny and bilingual tour guide was great and very knowledgeable.

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