Top 20 Castles around Lahnau

Hohensolms Castle, also known as Neu-Hohensolms, is a hilltop castle on the so-called "Ramsberg" at around 430 m above sea level. NN The castle was built around 1350 by the Counts of Solms. It replaced Alt-Hohensolms Castle, which was destroyed in 1349 by the imperial city of Wetzlar and was about 2 kilometers further south on the Altenberg. In the disputes with the imperial city of Wetzlar, Neu-Hohensolms was partially destroyed in 1356 and 1363. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Hohensolms

Vetzberg Castle offers a beautiful view, especially of Gleiberg Castle. As a repeat offender, I climbed the castle on a sunny, cold winter's day. The ascent and the wintry view are worth recommending!

Gleiberg Castle is a must and is a highlight of the hike: Here the tower with its 149 steps is open and we experience one of the most amazing 360 degree panoramic views on the Lahn hiking trail, admittedly the weather should be right: just a few clouds so that the sky isn't so boringly blue and little haze. The two castles Vetzberg and Gleiberg are such beautiful photo models, the Dünsberg keeps forcing its way into the picture and I can't stop taking photos. It's hard to believe that both castles are the same height at 310 and 308 meters, but the Gleiberg view + ruins are unbeatable.

The armory in particular is super nice

The Counts of Solms rebuilt Hohensolms Castle in 1350 after their first castle was completely destroyed elsewhere in 1349. From the former residence of the Counts of Solms-Hohensolms, the furnishings of the knight's hall, the carvings in the stairwell and the artistic wood paneling in the upper chambers have been preserved. The castle has been owned by the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau since 1953 and is used as a guest house for children and young people. In the castle (main building), the house offers plenty of space for children and young people with shared rooms and some head rooms with associated shower/toilet. In the modern Marstall there are 18 rooms with shower/toilet for 2 - 6 people. Numerous conference rooms for 20 - 200 people are available. The former princely seat of Hohensolms has been a youth castle since 1924. Source: https://www.tourenplaner-rheinland-pfalz.de/de/punkt/schloss/burg-hohensolms/38413007/

Gleiberg Castle, located on a striking 308 m high basalt cone, is the landmark of the Gleiberg region that can be seen from afar and is a popular tourist destination. Information about the castle can be found here: https://www.burg-gleiberg.de/ The castle and observation tower were open on a Monday, admission was free. The view from above is worth it!

The elongated building (85 × 22 meters) in the style of the German Renaissance is originally a military building, which is still called the armory today. The huge armory was built in 1586-1590 at right angles to the New Castle, which had been completed half a century earlier as a small but representative residence. The ensemble of buildings around a courtyard was completed by a royal stable and the rent office. The Senckenbergstraße, which runs here today, was not laid out until around 1900, when the fortress wall had long since been removed. The symmetrically designed armory impresses with its mighty gable roof and the high gables with the typical snail and ball decorations. This monumental building also burned down after the bombing in December 1944. The state of Hesse preserved the old outlines during the reconstruction in 1960/61 and reconstructed the facade; Windows and interiors were modernized to suit the new use. The new palace and armory were used by the Justus Liebig University, which was rebuilt in 1957. The small extension next to the main portal dates from the time the university was founded in 1609: the university prison. This is where rowdy, hard-drinking Studiosi were imprisoned. The Giessen prison also found its way into literature through the school humorous »The Visit to the Carcer« (1876); it was written by the writer Ernst Eckstein (1845–1900), who was born in Giessen. The rumor persists that it was even included in the screenplay for the film »Die Feuerzangenbowle« (1944) with Heinz Rühmann. Source: https://giessen-discoveren.de/locations/neues-schloss-und-zeughaus/

Always beautiful