Castle Museum

The museum in Eppstein's castle is in the one building within the castle walls which was spared breakup in the early 19th century because it was still in use as a Catholic chapel.

The museum is very light and airy and nicely signposted--unfortunately only in German. Anyone can understand the models though and imagine how the castle looked all in white with a pointy turret on the top of its high tower. The models illustrate the castle's expansion over the years. The last defense walls were built in the 16th/17th century.

Although the building which houses the museum was built in the 13th century as an armory, it was then used as a kitchen (big oven in the back built in the 15th/16th century); you'll notice the baroque altar, which Eppstein's Catholics acquired when they used the building as their chapel after the valley church (Talkirche) became Protestant during the Reformation.

Different posters tell about the Eppstein castle as a divided castle since 1492 when the Lords of Eppstein sold half the castle to the Counts of Hessen. They also tell of its destruction after the French Revolution when the castle fell to the Duke of Nassau, who allowed it to be sold for its materials.

Upstairs are some books written by early travel writers who refer to Eppstein; also upstairs is a copy of Dumas's Le chateau d'Eppstein, as well as paintings of the castle, in particular some painted by members of one of the first painters' colonies in Germany--the "Kronberger Malerkolonie," founded in the 19th century.

The museum has many brochures about the castle's activities and those of all the castles in the Taunus. The old school desk also has books for children to read about knights and castles. The museum's hours are Saturdays 2-5 p.m., Sundays and holidays 12-5 p.m.