Schloss Engers

About the museum

On the Rhine bank at Engers, Johann Philipp von Walderdorff, Elector of Trier, had the medieval toll castle of Kunostein demolished from 1758; Archbishop Kuno von Falkenstein had built it in 1371. In its place, a hunting and pleasure palace was built into the 1760s to designs by Johannes Seiz, a pupil of Balthasar Neumann; here the passionate hunter resided during the hunting season in the Westerwald. The banqueting hall was decorated by stucco artist Michael Eytel and painter Januarius Zick; its ceiling painting of Diana, goddess of the hunt, gave the hall its name.

After the end of the Electorate, the palace first served Nassau-Weilburg as a summer residence and passed to Prussia after the Congress of Vienna. From 1862 to 1914 it housed a military academy, and during the wars of 1870/71 and 1914–1917 a military hospital. From 1928 the Josefs-Gesellschaft used the estate as a care facility.

In 1990 the state of Rhineland-Palatinate took over the palace; since 1995 it has been the seat of the state foundation Villa Musica, which trains young chamber musicians here and holds concerts in the Dianasaal almost every week. Since 2023 the Landesmusikakademie (state music academy) has also used rooms in the building.

In cooperation with the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe, the historic rooms on the piano nobile are open on Sundays and public holidays. Besides the Dianasaal, they include the staircase, the Rose Cabinet, the Four Seasons Room and the former apartment of the Elector; on display are furniture from the Roentgen era, paintings by Januarius Zick, portraits of the Electors of Trier and grand pianos from the Koblenz court piano factory of Carl Mand.

Highlights

• Dianasaal with ceiling fresco by Januarius Zick
• Rococo-style Rose Cabinet
• Elector's apartment with furniture from the Roentgen era
• Historic grand pianos from the Carl Mand court piano factory
• Chamber concerts by Villa Musica

Permanent exhibitions

• Historische Räume der Beletage – Tour through the Dianasaal, Rose Cabinet, Four Seasons Room and Elector's apartment with Rococo decor, furniture, paintings and historic grand pianos.

Operated by

Landesstiftung Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz (in Kooperation mit der Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe)

Admission & discounts

Visits take the form of a guided tour through the Dianasaal and museum rooms for €3 per person. No concessions specified.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Villa Musica lists the Schloss Engers venue as wheelchair-accessible with an accessible restroom (this refers to concert operations).

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings conducted by the city of Neuwied in the Dianasaal on set afternoon dates (booking fee €200, €240 for non-residents, plus €300 room fee payable to Villa Musica). The Dianasaal seats just over 100 guests for concerts.

Plan your visit