When do the visible remains date from?

Most of the present structure dates from the first half of the 14th century, built under Count Günther XXI of Schwarzburg.

Why did the castle fall into ruin?

Repeated inheritance divisions within the von Witzleben family caused a gradual decline from the 17th century onward, ending with its sale for demolition in 1867.

Are original architectural features still visible?

Yes, including a pointed-arch portal, carved mullioned windows and remnants of fireplaces in the residential wing.

Liebenstein Castle

Liebenstein

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Where: Liebenstein

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Open within 20 km

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Burg Liebenstein stands in Liebenstein (Ilm-Kreis), in Thuringia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Liebenstein Castle stands as a ruin on a rocky spur 385 metres high above the Thuringian village that bears its name, in the Ilm-Kreis district. Most of what remains today dates from the 13th and especially the 14th century, built under the Counts of Schwarzburg, with a tower and residential wing merged into an elongated, multi-storey fortified house, a rather unusual layout for the region. Visitors can still make out a pointed-arch portal, elaborately carved mullioned windows on the upper residential floor, and the remains of fireplaces and a projecting latrine. The ruin, partly surrounded by an outer wall and a twelve-metre-deep moat, now belongs to the Thuringian Castles and Gardens Foundation.

What to know

This is an open-air ruin, without a roof or fully preserved interiors.
The site sits on a rocky spur, so reaching it involves an uphill walk.
The castle is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Thuringia.
No opening hours, admission fee or visit duration are given in the available information.
The surrounding walls and moat are best explored on foot in dry weather.

Practical information

Opening hours

ganzjährig frei zugänglich (ouvert toute l'année, accès libre)

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

Where this château is

Liebenstein · Ilm-Kreis · Thüringen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Liebenstein, 99330 Geratal

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Château phone number

+49 175 4633943

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The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.5 / 5from 252 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Thüringen

In pictures

Frequently asked

Is Liebenstein Castle inhabited or furnished?: No, it is a ruin managed by the Thuringian Castles and Gardens Foundation, with no residential use.
When do the visible remains date from?: Most of the present structure dates from the first half of the 14th century, built under Count Günther XXI of Schwarzburg.
Why did the castle fall into ruin?: Repeated inheritance divisions within the von Witzleben family caused a gradual decline from the 17th century onward, ending with its sale for demolition in 1867.
Are original architectural features still visible?: Yes, including a pointed-arch portal, carved mullioned windows and remnants of fireplaces in the residential wing.