Arnsberg Castle (German: Schloss Arnsberg) is a former palace in Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is a located on a 256 m (840 ft) high hill.[1]
Arnsberg castle was constructed as the seat of the counts of Werl-Arnsberg, probably around 1100. It served as residence of the counts of Arnsberg until 1368.[2] With the transition of the county into the possession of the Electorate of Cologne, it became the centre of power of the Duchy of Westphalia.[2] The electors resided, hunted and feasted there during their visits, the Landdrost had his seat there as governor, and partially the provincial assemblies also took place there.[2]
Elector Salentin of Isenburg (1532–1610) had the castle redesigned in the renaissance style around 1575.[2] Under Maximilian Henry of Bavaria (1621–1688), there was another renovation in 1654.[2] A fundamental redesign in the baroque style took place from 1739 onwards under Elector Clemens August of Bavaria (1700–1761) with help of the architect Johann Conrad Schlaun (1695–1773), creating a cheerful palace and hunting lodge.[2] Arnsberg castle was destroyed in 1762 during the Seven Years' War.[2]
Today, the complex is a castle ruin and can be freely visited.[2]