Schadeck Castle

Schadeck Castle is a defensive castle on the Lahn, opposite Runkel Castle, in the district of Runkel bearing the same name. The hilltop castle is situated on a slope rising steeply about 50 meters above the Lahn river in the district of Schadeck, named after it, in the Hessian town of Runkel. The castle is located about six kilometers east of Limburg and 60 kilometers northwest of Frankfurt am Main.

The castle was built from 1276 to 1288 by "Heinrich von Westerburg" as a defensive stronghold against Runkel Castle, which at the time was owned by a cousin, due to inheritance and property disputes. Because of this function, it and the settlement around it received their name: "a corner to the detriment of Runkel Castle". However, Runkel Castle was not conquered. On July 21, 1321, a treaty was concluded, forcing the then lord Reinhard von Westerburg to hand over Schadeck Castle as a fief to the Archbishop Balduin of Trier. This was preceded by armed conflicts between the two later contracting parties. However, the contract was not executed, so Balduin conquered the castle in 1344. This acquisition was related to Balduin's efforts to secure and expand his territories on the right bank of the Rhine. The disputes over Schadeck apparently continued, so in 1346 a treaty was concluded which provided for a division of the castle. In the same year, Reinhard von Westerburg sold his share completely to the Archbishop. Apparently, however, the Westerburg family seems to have remained in the castle as Balduin's vassals.

During the Thirty Years' War and again in 1803, parts of the castle complex, especially the north wing, were razed.

From the early 19th century, ownership of the castle changed hands several times. It was also divided among various owners. From 1821, the west wing housed the mayor's office of the municipality of Schadeck, and from about 1850, the municipal school was located on the second floor.

In the 20th century, the structural condition deteriorated visibly, so that parts of the castle threatened to collapse. In 1998, extensive renovation work began, in particular the complete renewal of the roof and the half-timbering of the baroque staircase. These works were completed in 2006.