Museum Glockenwelt Burg Greifenstein

About the museum

Greifenstein Castle in the Lahn-Dill district is first mentioned in 1226 with a Rudolf von Greifenstein. After its destruction in 1298, the counts of Solms-Braunfels and Nassau-Sonnenberg rebuilt it from 1381 and built the double keep. In the 17th century it was expanded into a Renaissance palace; from 1676 a Baroque palace church rose above the late Gothic St. Catherine's Chapel, so that today a rare double church can be seen. After the line died out in 1693, the complex fell into ruin.

The Greifenstein association, founded in 1969, acquired the ruin symbolically for one Deutsche Mark and began to rescue it. In 1974 it bought the gatehouse from 1480 and set up the village and castle museum there. From 1984, a collection of historical bells was built up in the bastion “Die Glocke”; since 2012 it has been accessible as the Glockenwelt, which is also a GeoPoint in the Nationaler Geopark Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus.

In the Glockenwelt, around 100 bells from a thousand years of bell history invite visitors to listen and try them out. Visitors can produce sounds themselves and learn more about casting and sound production; many exhibits come from the Rincker bell foundry in nearby Sinn. The castle grounds, with the Baroque church, casemates and double towers, are among the buildings of national importance.

Highlights

• Glockenwelt with around 100 bells to listen to and try out
• Double church of a Gothic chapel and a Baroque church
• Views from the double towers
• Casemates of the castle complex
• Bell mice Bim & Bam and a sound niche for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Glockenwelt Burg Greifenstein – Around 100 bells from a thousand years of German bell history, with sound stations, hands-on activities and information on how bells are made.
• Doppelkirche mit Barockkirche und Katharinenkapelle – Above the Gothic St. Catherine's Chapel of 1462 rises the early Baroque palace church with stucco decoration; services are held there on Sundays.

Operated by

Greifenstein-Verein e. V.

Admission & discounts

The ticket is valid for the Glockenwelt and the double church. With an admission ticket from Schloss Braunfels there is a €1 discount (and vice versa). Card payment is possible.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Trying things out is expressly welcome in the Glockenwelt. The bell mice Bim & Bam guide children through the exhibition; in a niche there is a tubular bell glockenspiel and a sound memory game. Family ticket €20.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 45: from the direction of Dortmund take the Herborn-Süd exit, from the direction of Frankfurt the Ehringshausen exit; then follow the signs to the village and Burg Greifenstein. A leisure bus runs in the region.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant: not available

The castle restaurant is currently closed; the association is looking for a tenant.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil marriage ceremonies in the wedding room in the bastion “Die Münze”, church weddings in the Baroque church; celebrations were previously possible in the castle restaurant for up to 220 guests (currently closed).

Plan your visit