Blankenhain Castle - from a ring-house castle to a venue for markets and festivals

Built around 1150 on an elevated plateau in the middle of the town, Blankenhain Castle dates back to a Romanesque roundhouse castle. The castle was never a residence and therefore lacks architectural splendor. However, the shape of a closed, irregular oval gives the castle architectural rarity value. Particularly worth seeing are the stair tower, the courtyard gate, the magnificent oriel with relief sculpture and the oriel busts decorated with Gothic coats of arms.

In the 13th century, the castle was owned by the Lords of Blankenhain and later the Counts of Gleichen (1416-1631) moved into the complex. After fires in the 17th century, the originally late Gothic castle was rebuilt with modifications by the Counts of Hatzfeld.

Today, the castle is the venue for weddings, markets, festivals and cultural events, but can also be rented for private purposes via the Blankenhain town council.