Schloss Waldeck
Medieval castle high above the Edersee with a hotel and the castle museum "Hinter Schloss und Riegel" on the history of punishment and prison.
About the museum
Waldeck Castle towers about 120 meters above today's Edersee and was first mentioned in records in 1120. For centuries it was the ancestral seat and residence of the Counts of Waldeck, who gave their name to the later principality. Dating from this period are the keep from the late 13th or early 14th century and a well about 120 meters deep, dug in the 16th century, among other features.
After the counts moved their residence to Arolsen in 1655, the castle lost its role as a seat of power. From then on it served as a fortress and barracks, and from 1734 to 1868 as a penitentiary, at times also as a women's prison. The complex has been publicly owned since 1920.
Today the castle houses a hotel with a restaurant and café. The castle museum "Hinter Schloss und Riegel" (Under Lock and Key) builds on its prison past: it traces a path from Emperor Charles V's strict criminal code of 1532 through the Waldeck constitution of 1849 to the emergence of the modern penal system. The castle can also be reached by the Waldecker Bergbahn funicular from the lakeshore.
Highlights
- Castle museum "Hinter Schloss und Riegel" on criminal justice
- Castle well about 120 meters deep, from the 16th century
- Medieval keep
- Panoramic view over the Edersee
- Arrival by the Waldecker Bergbahn
Permanent exhibitions
- Hinter Schloss und Riegel – Permanent exhibition on the history of courts, punishment, and imprisonment – from Charles V's criminal code (Halsgerichtsordnung) through the Waldeck constitution of 1849 to the modern penal system.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Ages 6–16 €4 |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed |
| Groups (7+ people) | €8 per personGroups with guided tour (7–20 people) €8 per person |
Admission includes an audio guide.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Waldecker Bergbahn from the Edersee shore to the castle; nearest train stations Korbach and Bad Wildungen (about 20 km each)
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
Hotel Schloss Waldeck with the restaurant "Alte Turmuhr" and the café "Altane" with lake views.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Weddings, banquets, conferences, and seminars through the Hotel Schloss Waldeck.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR, NL) |
| Good to know | A museum visit takes about 1 hour with the audio guide; guided tours for groups of 7 to 20 people on request. |
