Diezer Grafenschloß

Diez, Germany, Germany

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Diezer Grafenschloß in Diez, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, originated as an 11th-century hilltop fortress built by the Counts of Diez atop a porphyry rock above the town, with its massive square bergfried tower—Germany's oldest of its kind—serving as the core structure.

Expanded from the 14th century into a Gothic-Renaissance residence by the Nassau-Diez counts, including Dutch-influenced wings and a 1581 gatehouse under figures like Wilhelm the Silent, it later became a prison from 1778 to 1928 before evolving into a museum showcasing local history and medieval architecture.

Today, the preserved complex with its chapel, palas remnants, and Jugendstil prison murals hosts exhibitions, weddings, and a youth hostel.