Arnsberg Castle

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.

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. 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. 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.

Elector Salentin of Isenburg (1532–1610) had the castle redesigned in the renaissance style around 1575. Under Maximilian Henry of Bavaria (1621–1688), there was another renovation in 1654. 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. Arnsberg castle was destroyed in 1762 during the Seven Years' War.

Today, the complex is a castle ruin and can be freely visited.