Schloss Molsberg

Schloss Molsberg stands in the village of Molsberg in the Westerwaldkreis of Rheinland-Pfalz. The site began as a medieval castle built by the Lords of Molsberg in the 11th century to guard the old trade route known as the Hohe Straße. In the 17th century the present Baroque palace replaced the castle, becoming the ancestral home of the Counts of Walderdorff in 1657. A broad English-style landscape garden surrounds the building, its late-18th-century lime-tree avenue forming a grand approach. The garden also contains the former pavilion, now used as an art gallery by the Walderdorff Gallery. The palace is recognised for its restored Baroque chapel, which received a federal craft prize in 2010. The chapel’s interior reflects the family’s long connection to the site, first recorded in 1493. Annual events such as the traditional Whitsun festival and concerts take place in the gardens. The lime avenue and surrounding park remain a focal point for local gatherings and cultural programmes. Visitors walk through the lime avenue to reach the palace and its chapel. The chapel’s interior decoration and the model of the old castle in the gallery illustrate the building’s history. The park offers open lawns and mature trees, providing a quiet setting for strolls. The art gallery in the former pavilion displays changing exhibitions. The whole estate shows how a medieval fortress evolved into a Baroque residence while keeping its landscaped surroundings.