Berleburg Residential Palace & Siegen Upper CastleTruly princely

Princes and families, nobility and everyday life: two important residences in European aristocratic history lie close to each other in one of Germany's most densely wooded regions. The residence of the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg family to this day is the Berleburg Residential Palace. Once owned by the Counts of Nassau and Nassau-Siegen, the Siegen Upper Castlewhich is now home to the Siegerland Museum and honours one of the town's sons in a special way: the painter Peter Paul Rubens.

There are days when the Danish capital is not called Copenhagen, but unofficially Bad Berleburg. When both Denmark's former Queen Margrethe II and the reigning King Frederik X are out of the country, a woman from the Siegen-Wittgenstein district takes on the role of head of state: Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. Her family has owned the Berleburg Residential Palace for more than 600 years and it is not only aristocratic guests from all over Europe who are welcome here. During the summer months, public guided tours are offered three days a week, during which the family provides an insight into the history and present of the house. The Princely Park, whose layout has remained unchanged since 1750 and which blends picturesquely into the surrounding woods, is also open to the public.

There is a small anniversary to celebrate in Siegen in 2025. Exactly 120 years ago, the Siegerland Museum moved into the former hilltop castle, which was probably built by Henry II of Nassau at the beginning of the 13th century and has been significantly remodelled several times over the centuries. The collection in the rooms of the Upper Castle focuses on the closely linked history of the city of Siegen and the House of Nassau-Orange. With more than 800 prints and numerous paintings, the museum also has an extensive collection of works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, who was born a stone's throw from the castle at Burgstraße 10 in 1577. His own works, such as Rubens' oil sketch "Ecce Homo", as well as works by his pupils are exhibited in the Rubens Hall and make it clear why the workshop of the former court painter, which was founded in Antwerp, soon became one of the most important in Europe.

The traces of the Orange-Nassau dynasty can be traced even further during a visit to the Ginsburg in Hilchenbach. On 31 March 1586, Prince William I of Orange-Nassau met here with his brothers and other officers to negotiate the liberation of the Netherlands from the Spanish occupying forces. Today, the café owner surprises her guests after a walk or cycle tour with home-baked cakes and snacks in the castle kitchen. Before going back to the 13th century for a good night's sleep. Hainchen Castle in Netphen, South Westphalia's only hilltop moated castle to have been completely preserved from decay, offers cosy rooms for cultural travellers, active holidaymakers and families.