Marienluft Castle

Maienluft Castle is a high medieval castle complex in Wasungen in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen.

1150–1274

The predecessor of Maienluft Castle near Wasungen dates back to a hilltop castle from the 12th century, whose castle settlement "castrum cum burgo" was first mentioned in 1190. It is not known whether it is identical to today's hilltop castle. The castle was probably founded before 1150, as the Knights of Wasungen were already mentioned in 1157. The last representative of this older Wasungen family was Siegfried von Wasungen.

Thereafter, the castle was in the possession of the younger branch of the Lords of Wasungen under Gotebold von Wasungen, presumably a Poppish line of the Hennebergs, which is last documented around 1230. Around 1228, the small lordship of Wasungen was apparently enfeoffed to the Counts of Henneberg. They had the castle administered by low-ranking ministerials, who were also referred to as "von Wasungen" and are documented until 1265. During this time, the castle was further expanded and provided with a keep.

1274–1583

Since the main Henneberg division in 1274, Wasungen with its castle, as the seat of the Wasungen Cent, belonged to the Henneberg-Schleusingen line of counts. The Cent court was elevated to a free imperial regional court in 1307. Between 1299 and 1446, the castle is also documented as the administrative center of the bailiwick or office of Wasungen (with bailiff, gatekeepers, tower guards, and watchmen). An agricultural operation ("Vorwerk") was housed in the lower castle courtyard.

At the beginning of the 14th century, the town of Wasungen, which was originally a burgmann settlement, received town rights modeled on Schweinfurt. Around 1500, the castle lost its military function and the fortifications began to decay. Although it had survived the Peasants' War undamaged, it was no longer of strategic importance. The medieval Vorwerk was converted into a domain (state estate). In 1526, a princely tenant is documented for the first time on the former noble seat. During this time, the name "Maienluft" first appeared for the property.

1583 to the Present

After the extinction of the Counts of Henneberg in 1583, the castle passed into the joint administration of the Wettin-Saxon lines of the Ernestines and Albertines. In the real division of the County of Henneberg in 1660, the castle went to the Duke of Saxe-Gotha, who from 1672 called himself Duke of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg. After an inheritance division of this line, the castle belonged to the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen from 1680.

Even after the Wasungen War of 1747–1748 between the lines of Saxe-Meiningen and Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, the town and castle remained in the possession of Meiningen, but were temporarily occupied by Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

In 1868, the construction of facilities on the castle and the opening of the tower began. Furthermore, castle festivals were held by the "Local Beautification Association". After two fires in 1874 and 1876, the large domain stable building was restored with historicist architectural forms. Today, the building houses a restaurant and hotel. The Duke of Saxe-Meiningen sold the castle in 1898. Afterwards, a guesthouse was established. The current owners have extensively renovated the castle since 1992.