The first castle was built around 900 on the site of a former Slavic settlement. It probably served as an outpost of the royal palace of Dornburg. It was rebuilt and extended over the following centuries. The outer walls with the four towers visible today date from the 16th century. The castle subsequently lost its importance. In 1977, dedicated Schkölen residents began to uncover the moated castle. This was followed by extensive excavations, during which the foundations of other buildings and well-preserved vaulted cellars were uncovered. Today's drawbridge with reel mechanism was built in the course of extensive restoration work. One of the buildings houses a café with a 17-metre-long painted wall frieze on the history of Schkölen.