Schloss Kislau

Bad Schönborn, Germany, Germany

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Schloss Kislau is a historic castle in the Kislau district of Bad Schönborn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, originally built in 1721 as a baroque hunting lodge for Damian Hugo von Schönborn, the Prince-Bishop of Speyer, who later made it his summer residence.

Over the centuries, the building served many different purposes: it became a military barracks and hospital in 1813, a state prison and workhouse in 1824, and an internment camp during the Baden Revolution of 1848–49 where many Heidelberg students were held.

Its darkest chapter came after Hitler seized power in 1933, when part of the castle was converted into the Kislau concentration camp (KZ Kislau), a regional camp for political prisoners and a re-education camp for former German members of the French Foreign Legion, operating until 1939 when remaining prisoners were transferred to Dachau.

Socialist politician Ludwig Marum was murdered there in 1934 by SA and SS members. After World War II, the castle briefly served as a refugee center before resuming its function as a prison, and since 1970 it has operated as a branch of Bruchsal Prison, practicing open detention since 1997.