Schloss Hohenlimburg

About the museum

Count Dietrich I of Altena-Isenberg had the castle built around or shortly after 1240 on a rocky spur above the Lenne valley; it is first documented in 1242. It became the center of the County of Limburg, which existed until 1807/08. From 1592 the castle and county belonged to the Counts of Bentheim-Tecklenburg. In the 18th century they expanded the complex into a residence with a late Baroque garden, and after 1816/17 they used it again as their main residence for about a decade. To this day the castle belongs to the princely house.

A local history museum (Heimatmuseum), founded in 1927 by the Verein für Orts- und Heimatkunde (association for local history), moved into the castle in 1949. Later it focused mainly on courtly living culture and the history of the Bentheim-Tecklenburg family. The Deutsches Kaltwalzmuseum (German cold rolling museum), opened in 1988, was added and moved to the Hagen open-air museum in 2017. After a reorientation starting in 2015, parts of the exhibitions were removed. Since then the castle has positioned itself more strongly as a venue for celebrations, weddings and events.

Since 2022 the inner courtyard, wall walk, cannon square and castle garden can be visited through a turnstile. Since July 2024 the keep (Bergfried) has housed the exhibition on the "Schwarze Hand." It is a mummified hand that was found in the rubble of the tower after the lightning strike of 1811. Legends surround it; it is probably a medieval legal or evidentiary sign.

Highlights

• Exhibition on the "Schwarze Hand" in the keep
• Wall walk with views of Hohenlimburg and the Lenne valley
• Walk-in dungeon in the inner courtyard
• Baroque castle garden from 1730 with a small vineyard
• Salute cannons on the cannon square of the outer bailey
• Night watchman tours through the castle

Permanent exhibition

• Ausstellung „Schwarze Hand“ – The mummified "Schwarze Hand," found around 1811 in the rubble of the tower after lightning destroyed it, is shown in the keep, along with the legend and its scientific interpretation.

Operated by

Fürstliche Schlösser gemeinnütziger e. V. (Fürstenhaus Bentheim-Tecklenburg)

Admission & discounts

The admission of €6 per person is paid at the ticket machine with turnstile.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Night watchman tours have separate family tour dates; children pay €5 for them.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings in the Fürstensaal (princes' hall), free ceremonies in the inner courtyard, and celebrations in the Alte Schlossrestaurant (old castle restaurant). The Rote Salon (red salon) suits quieter, representative occasions.

Plan your visit