Idstein Castle

Idstein Castle stands on a rocky ridge in the centre of Idstein, a town in the Rheingau-Taunus county. Built around 1170, it began as a medieval hill castle for the counts of Nassau-Idstein. The inner bailey still holds parts from the 15th century: the old district courthouse, the gatehouse, the palas and the bergfried. In the early 17th century Prince George Augustus Samuel had a Renaissance schloss added to the outer ward. The Baroque interior was finished about 1714 under architect Maximilian von Welsch, with stucco by Carlo Maria Pozzi and ceiling paintings by Valentin David Albrecht and Luca Antonio Colomba. The castle’s Witches’ Tower, known as the Hexenturm, is one of Idstein’s oldest buildings and a local landmark. Its nickname dates from the 19th century, long after the witch trials it now commemorates. A plaque at its base lists thirty-one women and eight men executed in 1676 under John, Count of Nassau-Idstein. The tower’s name spread widely after Ottokar Schupp’s novel Die Pfarrfrau von Heftrich appeared around 1900. A 20-metre stone bridge crosses the neck ditch between the outer and inner baileys, leading to a small Renaissance garden where guides in 1702 costume lead tours. Visitors find the inner bailey with its medieval buildings and the Hexenturm standing above the town. The Renaissance schloss contains Baroque interiors and the Emperor Chamber with elaborate stucco work. Outside, the stone bridge and the small Renaissance garden offer quiet spots to view the surrounding old town. The castle remains a working school, yet parts are open on request, giving a sense of both history and everyday life.