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Burg Merlau, Merlau

Burg Merlau

Merlau Castle

Merlau

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where
Merlau

To make a day of it

Sleep nearby

Burg Merlau stands in Merlau (Vogelsbergkreis), in Hesse, Germany. No visits are on record for this building.

Burg Merlau refers to a now vanished castle in the village of Merlau, in Hesse. First recorded in 1279, the medieval stronghold was replaced at the end of the 16th century by a Renaissance schloss commissioned by Landgrave Louis IV and built by his architect Ebert Baldewein. Repeatedly damaged by troops passing through during the wars from 1618 onward, the building was finally demolished in the mid-19th century, its stones reused for the rebuilding of the village church. Only foundation remains near a pond, a trace of the former water-filled moat, can still be seen on the site today.

What to know

  • The castle itself no longer stands, only foundation remains and a pond mark its former location.
  • A double coat of arms from the old schloss can be seen in the porch of Merlau's church, which was rebuilt using its stones.
  • Visiting means a free walk around the site and village, with no opening hours or admission fee.
  • The former manorial mill, the Herrnmühle, still stands nearby and now houses holiday apartments.

Where this château is

Merlau · Vogelsbergkreis · Hessen

Map of the area around Burg Merlau

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Merlau, Vogelsbergkreis

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

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Heritage status
Protection status unknown

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

In pictures

Frequently asked

Can Burg Merlau still be visited today?
No, the building was demolished in the mid-19th century, only foundation traces remain on site.
What remains of Burg Merlau today?
There are wall remnants near a pond marking the former water moat, along with a coat of arms preserved in the village church.
Who built the Merlau schloss?
Landgrave Louis IV of Hesse-Marburg commissioned it between 1583 and 1591, built by his architect Ebert Baldewein.
Why did Burg Merlau disappear?
Repeatedly damaged by military occupation from 1618 onward, it was eventually abandoned and demolished on the order of Landgrave Louis X in the 19th century.

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Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Land's heritage lists.

Within an hour’s drive

The most visited in this department — Vogelsbergkreis