Originally built as a lohmühle to serve the purposes of a local tannery, Schloss Fellenberg was transformed into the castle seen today by the Swiss manufacturer, William Tell von Fellenberg. Located in the charming capital of Merzig-Wadern, it features ornate carved sandstone, turrets and oriel bay windows, together with drainage pipes and bauziers, making it a striking example of 19th-century archi-tecture. The castle consists of two distinct sections, a large, multi-level and yellow-plastered structure and a smaller red sandstone one with a tower and gargoyle.
After falling into the hands of the von Boch family following the death of von Fellenberg, Schloss Fellenberg was bought by the District of Merzig in 1934. They established it as a home for the elderly before it became the maternity ward of a local hospital.
Since 1980, the castle has functioned as a museum that explores the regional his-tory of Merzig-Wadern and hosts a range of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Discover the people, places and events that have shaped the district through old photographers, artifacts and informative displays. In addition to its historical exhibits, the castle also exhibits and awards the annual Monika von Boch Prize for Photography, which honors this influential black-and-white German photographer.
Schloss Fellenberg was completely renovated to its former glory between 1997 and 2000, allowing visitors to experience the opulence in which von Fellenberg and his family once lived. It lies adjacent to the Garden of Arts, which is dotted with sculptures by Liselotte Netz-Paulik, Leo Kornbrust, Heinz Oliberius and Paul Schneider.