Idstein Castle

Burg Idstein — also known as Schloss Idstein — is a hilltop castle in the Rheingau-Taunus district of Hesse that evolved from a medieval fortress into a partly Renaissance palace under the counts of Nassau-Idstein during the 16th and 17th centuries. It served as the dynastic seat of the Nassau-Idstein line until the lineage died out in 1721. The site is closely associated with the Idstein witch trials of 1676, during which more than thirty people were executed — making the castle's surviving Hexenturm (Witches' Tower) a tangible reminder of one of Hesse's darkest episodes of early modern persecution. Protected today as a listed Kulturdenkmal, the castle and its surrounding park offer elevated views over the Taunus hills.