Schillingsfürst, Romantic Road

Nestled amongst the Frankenhöhe Nature Park is the small town of Schillingsfürst, home to just under 3,000 residents. The 425mi² (1,100 km²) nature park is a mix of forests, streams, vineyards, and protected areas. Because of its geographical location, the park is one of the sunniest spots in Germany.

The town’s landmark site is Schillingsfürst’s Castle, located on a mountain spur of the nature park. The castle has undergone several rebuilds over the centuries, having been destroyed in 1316, 1525, and 1632. The current castle, with its Baroque architecture, was built by Prince Karl Albrecht in 1753 and took 40 years to complete. The castle was owned by Prince Chlodwig Karl Viktor in the 1800s and has remained in the family since.

This U-shaped castle is three storeys high with a large courtyard leading to an arched bridge crossing a double moat system. The castle’s entrance is via a stuccoed staircase with the ceiling and walls filled with allegorical reliefs. The intricate staircase balustrade leads to the first-floor hallway that is filled with hunting trophies and rifles. The west wing houses the family’s 19th-century ancestral portrait gallery, along with a collection of uniforms, medals, and items related to political activities.

The ladies’ salon is dusky pink with more stucco art on the ceiling, whilst the men’s salon is red with large mirrors in gilded frames hanging on the walls. The dining room has a massive artwork on its ceiling depicting a biblical scene from the Old Testament, whilst the study, the smallest of all rooms, contains medallions, musical instruments and putti (aka cherubs), along with a delicate Venetian glass chandelier. What is striking throughout the castle is the flooring.  In its original condition since 1730, the floor in various rooms is made of precious woods and inlaid with intricate patterns or scenes featuring lions, dogs, plants, and carriages.

During WWII, the castle narrowly escaped destruction by US tanks. A warning shot was fired, and it hit the north part of the castle. The damage was visible until its restoration in the late 1990s. Credit for saving the castle goes to Princess Aglaie and Red Cross sister Johanna Lößlein, who hung white tablecloths out the windows and surrendered the castle.

Today, the castle houses a museum, along with the Falconry Museum, the Franz Liszt Museum (dedicated to the composer), and the Foreign Legionnaire Museum, all located within its grounds.