Schloss Fürstenau

A five-minute walk from the basilica brought us to Schloss Fürstenau, my new favorite European castle.

Entering the palace complex which includes old border fortifications, a 14th century moated castle, a Renaissance palace mill, a former mint, lodging for staff and guests and a new palace, among other buildings.

One of the complex residents airing out her featherbed

Schloss Fürstenau is still a dwelling, with the head of the house of the princely Counts of Erbach-Fürstenau and his family still living there.

The gigantic Renaissance-style gateway arch (1588) between the moated castle’s two western corner towers replaced the castle wall and drawbridge and opened the gloomy, dank courtyard back up to the former castle garden.

I fell in love with this castle. It has everything: towers, statues, arches, a spiral staircase, a courtyard, fountains and a moat. It's the perfect castle. I just wish we could have gone inside.

The castle in the summer, with blue skies and green ivy.