Schloss Merchingen

Schloss Merchingen stands in the village of Merchingen, part of Ravenstein in the north-east of Baden-Württemberg. It is the largest contiguous castle building in the Neckar-Odenwald district. The castle was built in 1593 by the Aschhausen family of knights. Its layout shows several building phases, with different sections arranged at angles and varying floor heights. The oldest carved date, 1566, appears above the cellar entrance. Above the main door is an inscription naming Johann Erasmus von Aschhausen and his wife Anna Katharina, who completed the construction in 1593. The castle passed through several owners after the Aschhausens. Their three daughters inherited equal shares, and one daughter’s portion was later divided among three granddaughters. Marie Jakobe, one granddaughter, married Johann Wolfgang von Berlichingen in 1649 and began buying back the divided ninths. By 1709 the von Berlichingens owned the entire estate. In 1964 the local council acquired the castle by exchanging the hall buildings for about four hectares of woodland. The council later formed the Friends of the Castle association in 1982 to halt decay, and in 1995 the restored parts opened as a small hotel. Today the castle includes a hotel with thirteen bedrooms. The restored gatehouse and corner building house the reception and guest rooms. Inside are a local history museum, a meeting room and a breakfast museum. The Friends of the Castle association continues to care for the building and to reshape the grounds. The living quarters remain in the hands of the von Berlichingen family. Visitors can walk through the renovated halls, view the exhibits and explore the surrounding village of Merchingen.