Waldmannshausen Castle

Burg Waldmannshausen is a Late Gothic water castle built between 1486 and 1488 by Thebus of Waldmannshausen. It stands in the village of Elbgrund within the municipality of Elbtal in Limburg-Weilburg. The castle lies about 18 kilometres north of Limburg an der Lahn in the German state of Hesse. Nearby is the ruined Alte Burg, another water castle on the estate. The property sits on the edge of the village along the road to Frickhofen. The castle’s builder, Thebus of Waldmannshausen, was a vassal of the counts of Nassau-Dillenburg in the 15th century. By the 17th century the castle had fallen into ruin before being repaired in 1786. A schloss was added in 1790, and the site became a Schullandheim—a country educational facility—for schools in 1935. Today the castle and schloss are protected as listed buildings and hold special status under the Hague Convention. Visitors find a three-storey stone castle with a steep gabled roof and round towers at two corners. A central staircase tower marks the front façade. The moats have been levelled, and the old princely stable block stands opposite the castle. The estate farm borders the grounds, now used as a private residence. The Late Gothic design and later additions reflect centuries of history in a quiet rural setting.