A Hessian castle in Thuringia. Schmalkalden is worth a visit for several reasons. Firstly, because of its historical significance during the Reformation. Secondly, of course, because of the many half-timbered houses and the Wilhelmsburg Castle towering above them. The latter was once an important secondary residence of the Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel. Today, it is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Thuringia and is home to one of the oldest Protestant churches in Germany.

A permanent exhibition takes visitors back to the time of Martin Luther and the Schmalkaldic League. During the time of the Reformation, Schmalkalden was one of the political hotspots par excellence. Both the emperor and the pope had their eyes on the town in the south-west of the Thuringian Forest. In the last week of December 1530, Protestant princes, nobles and towns came together there to form the Schmalkaldic League, led by Philip I of Hesse and Elector John Frederick I of Saxony. They agreed that only a common alliance of all Protestants could offer protection against the Emperor. The League met eight times in Schmalkalden.

When the participants looked up towards the Queste, they could still see the ruined Wallrabsburg of the Counts of Henneberg. After this noble family died out, their possessions fell to Landgrave Wilhelm IV of Hesse-Kassel. He had the castle converted into a secondary residence from 1585. Today, Wilhelmsburg Castle towers over the old town of Schmalkalden. Due to its original room structure, the magnificent wall paintings and stucco work as well as its outdoor facilities, Wilhelmsburg Castle is a jewel among Germany's Renaissance castles.

With the consecration of the castle church on May 23, 1590, the castle was opened for use, even though the interior decoration had not yet been completed.