A Renaissance castle in the Kromsdorf district of the Thuringian municipality of Ilmtal-Weinstraße 

The picturesque Renaissance castle was built around 1580 by the Weimar and Altenburg chamberlain Georg Albrecht von Kromsdorf, while from 1664 Baron Johan Theodor de Mortaigne had the wall of the castle park redesigned with 64 sandstone busts of historical and exotic personalities to create an object of art history that is unique in Europe.

The busts in the wall of the square park were made from the 16th to the 19th century. In addition to emperors, kings, portraits of women and princes of modern times such as Charles V and Louis XIV, they also depict figures from antiquity.

Destruction and reconstruction

After the castle was destroyed and looted by the French in 1806 following the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt, it was not until 1830 that Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Saxe-Weimar took over the castle. Around 1905, the new owner Baron von Conta had a coach house and stables built. During the Second World War, the castle was occupied by American troops and inhabited by refugee families.

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna*, Karl Friedrich's wife, spent many happy hours here. The promenade path between Tiefurt and Kromsdorf castles is thanks to her commitment.

Home-brewed beer for today's guests

Today, the castle is managed by the "Bürgerschloss und Kulturbrauerei Kromsdorf e.V.". Events are held regularly and the castle tavern offers culinary delights with selected regional and seasonal dishes. This is accompanied by home-brewed beer from the Kulturbrauerei brewery or regional wine from the local vinotheque.

*Maria Pavlovna (1786-1859), granddaughter of Empress Catherine and daughter of the future Emperor Paul, was born a Grand Duchess of Russia. She became Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach through her marriage to Hereditary Duke Carl Friedrich. In 1804, she moved from the cosmopolitan city of St. Petersburg to the small yet world-famous town of Weimar.