Arolsen Castle: A Baroque Princely Residence in Bad Arolsen, Germany

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.schloss-arolsen.de

Country: Germany

Civilization: Early Modern, Modern

Site type: Domestic

Remains: Palace

History

Arolsen Castle is situated in the town of Bad Arolsen, Germany. Its origins trace back to the medieval period when the site was first occupied by a religious community.

The earliest recorded use of this location dates to 1131, when it hosted an Augustinian nunnery known as Aroldessen. This monastic foundation maintained control over the surrounding lands for several centuries. Between 1526 and 1530, the nunnery’s property underwent secularization under Count Philipp III of Waldeck-Eisenberg. The religious buildings were dismantled and replaced by a castle, marking the beginning of its transformation into a princely residence.

In 1710, extensive rebuilding took place as all existing structures, including the remnants of the old castle and monastery, were cleared to construct the present Baroque palace. This ambitious project was initiated by Count Friedrich Anton Ulrich of Waldeck-Pyrmont. Architect Hermann Korb designed the initial plans, which were later refined and developed by Julius Ludwig Rothweil. When Friedrich Anton Ulrich was raised to hereditary prince in 1712, the scale and grandeur of the construction were increased to reflect his elevated status. The major phases of building took place between 1713 and 1722, with the final additions such as outer wings and outbuildings completed by 1725. Work on the interior decorations and furnishings extended well into the 1730s and was continued by succeeding members of the princely family.

As the main residence of the Waldeck-Pyrmont Counts and Princes, the castle saw several functional adaptations during the 18th century. Notably, Prince Karl of Waldeck-Pyrmont converted parts of the west wing in 1728 to establish a mint. Subsequent decades also brought stylistic changes including interior renovations in Baroque and Rococo styles. The castle grounds expanded with new stables constructed between 1749 and 1758 and additional government offices built during 1755 to 1761. Nearby, a separate New Castle was built from 1763 to 1778 to serve as a widow’s residence.

The financial demands of constructing and maintaining such a grand palace placed a heavy strain on the small principality. This contributed to Waldeck losing its political independence when it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Prussia in 1867. The reigning prince maintained power until his deposition in 1918, following broader political changes in Germany. After lengthy discussions, ownership of the castle and its estates was transferred to a public administration in 1929. Despite this, the princely family retained rights to live in the palace and continued to occupy it.

From 1987, a dedicated restoration program was carried out, aiming to preserve the castle’s historic fabric and appearance. These efforts concluded in 2009, allowing the castle to serve as a site for museum exhibitions focused on the military history of Waldeck and to become a venue for cultural activities, including a festival celebrating Baroque music. The palace also houses a significant princely library, and members of the family still reside there today.

Remains

Arolsen Castle is a substantial Baroque palace arranged in a three-winged, U-shaped layout. The complex is set within an English-style landscape garden distinguished by a large circular feature known as a rondel at its center, along with an almost entirely preserved historic avenue of trees running beside a castle pond.

The palace’s exterior construction was largely finished by 1720. Two prominent gables face both the inner courtyard and the garden side, with the full complex including wings, courtyard fences, and guardhouses completed around 1725. Inside, the decoration features detailed stucco work carried out by Andrea Gallasini, an assistant to Julius Ludwig Rothweil the Elder. Ceiling paintings created between 1721 and 1722 by the Italian artist Carlo Lodovico Castelli add artistic richness, while decorative door overpanels (supraportes) were painted by Magnus de Quitter from Kassel.

Among the castle’s most notable interior rooms are the Baroque staircase hall, the Garden Hall, and the White Hall, which includes a surrounding gallery just above the Garden Hall. These spaces are furnished with valuable 18th-century Dutch tapestries, fine furniture, and paintings. One of the artworks is the sole known oil painting by Heinrich Aldegrever. Additional paintings by Wilhelm Tischbein and others contribute to the collection. Sculptural decorations within these rooms include works by Christian Daniel Rauch, Ernst Rietschel, and Alexander Trippel.

The west wing holds particular historical significance as the site of the former Arolsen mint. Today, this area contains the Adolf Brehm Library, a remarkable repository housing about 35,000 volumes alongside 300 maps, 500 large-scale engravings, and numerous smaller historic prints, distributed across five dedicated rooms.

Supporting buildings within the courtyard include an orangery and a nursery. A riding hall built between 1819 and 1824 by Theodor Escher also forms part of the ancillary structures. Although originally designed as a formal French garden, the castle park was transformed during the 18th century into an English landscape style with naturalistic features including a pond. The only remaining element from the original French design is a small circular boxwood rondel.

Due to ongoing care by the princely family and a foundation dedicated to its preservation, Arolsen Castle has maintained a high degree of historical integrity. The comprehensive restoration project completed in 2009 has helped safeguard the palace’s architectural and artistic heritage, ensuring its role as both a museum and a lived family estate.