Hungen Castle

Hungen Castle is a castle in Hungen, Hesse (Gießen district).

A castle complex in Hungen is documented for the year 1383, which was in the possession of the Falkensteiners. It was probably built after Hungen was granted town rights in 1361. In 1418, the Falkensteiners died out and parts of their possessions, including the castle in Hungen, fell to the Counts of Solms. Around 1455, Bernhard II of Solms-Braunfels built a larger castle on this site, presumably using building materials from the previous structure. The building was extended about 30 years later, 1487–1492, by Bernhard III, before Count Philipp also redesigned the area. He had some parts of the building demolished and, among other things, a stair tower (1574) erected instead. In 1616, the city wall and ramparts were built. This rampart was broken through during the construction of the Lahn-Kinzig railway through Hungen.

During World War II, the castle served the National Socialists as a collection point for Jewish cultural property looted in Western Europe, especially libraries.