Irmelshausen Castle

Irmelshausen Castle is located in the municipality of Höchheim, Germany. It was originally established by medieval German nobility as a fortified residence.

The castle’s origins trace back to the 12th century when Poppo III., a member of the Counts of Henneberg, adopted the name Irmelshausen from the site, marking the beginning of the Lords of Irmelshausen, a junior branch of the Henneberg family. During this early period, the castle served as the ancestral seat for this lineage. In the mid-13th century, ownership returned to the main Henneberg-Schleusingen line, reflecting the shifting control within the noble family.

In 1354, the castle was sold to the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg, a significant ecclesiastical territory within the Holy Roman Empire. Shortly after, in 1376, the influential von Bibra family acquired Irmelshausen Castle. The von Bibras were prominent figures in Franconia, South Thuringia, and the wider empire, and they maintained possession of the castle for centuries.

The current castle structure dates primarily from the 15th century, constructed under the von Bibra family’s direction. Between 1556 and 1561, Hans von Bibra undertook a major expansion, adding three new wings collectively known as the Hansenbau. This development reflected the family’s growing status and the need for a more extensive residence.

By the late 18th century, the castle was divided between two von Bibra brothers, creating what is known as a Ganerbenburg—a castle jointly owned by multiple family lines. Each brother’s descendants retained ownership of their respective halves. In the 20th century, the older line’s portion passed through inheritance and marriage into the Stauffenberg family. Since 2014, Karl Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg has been the occupant of this half, managing event services and holiday accommodations. The younger line’s half remains with Hans Freiherr von Bibra and his family. Today, the castle remains privately owned and is not open for interior public access.