New Castle

The Neues Schloss is a 19th-century palace in Hechingen, built for the princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. It stands on the site of a late-16th-century Renaissance residence that was demolished early in the 19th century. The present three-wing structure was designed by Rudolf Burnitz and funded by French reparations from the Congress of Vienna. Burnitz had trained under Friedrich Weinbrenner, a leading neo-classical architect in the Grand Duchy of Baden. The castle was completed in only two years, between 1818 and 1819. Financial difficulties left the building unfinished and the principality in debt. The palace served as the city residence for the local branch of the Hohenzollern family. Its neo-classical style reflects the influence of Weinbrenner’s school. The building’s history is tied to the Congress of Vienna, which provided the funds for its construction. The earlier Renaissance residence had been built by Eitel Frederick IV, Count of Hohenzollern. Only minor remnants of that earlier structure survive today. Visitors find a three-wing palace with classical proportions and restrained decoration. The exterior shows the clean lines and symmetry typical of the period. Inside, some rooms retain original features from the early 19th century. The palace sits in the centre of Hechingen, a small town in southern Germany. Its setting combines urban convenience with a quiet, dignified presence.