The first castle buildings were erected in Gehren as early as the 12th century. At that time, it was probably a simple watchtower on the historic trade route between Erfurt and Nuremberg. When the Knights of Berlstedt came to the town in 1308, further buildings were erected, which would later form the north wing of the castle.

Over a hundred years later, in 1464, the estate finally came into the possession of the Counts of Schwarzburg, who soon after had the complex extended, added the south wing and, from 1574, turned the buildings into a mighty castle in the Renaissance style. Sandstone blocks from the nearby Paulinzella monastery are even said to have been used for this purpose.

The castle chapel was not consecrated until 1666. From then on, the castle was used as a summer residence and even as the main residence of the Schwarzburg counts by Prince Günther I between 1720 and 1740.

In 1918, the castle became the property of the state of Thuringia and was later used as a residential building.

After a devastating fire on September 11, 1933, most of the badly damaged castle buildings were demolished. Only the remains of a mighty surrounding wall were preserved.

Today, the remains of the building, which were secured until 2001, can be visited in the middle of the English castle park.