CastleMemory: Burg Königstein

Let's have a walk down memory lane to the year 2013
and a visit to Burg Königstein in the Taunus region of Germany.

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Schloss Weesenstein

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Before I went to Dresden a few weeks ago, I had never heard of a place called Schloss Weesenstein. It was a special exhibition they are having this year that actually drew my attention to it: „Bomb-Proof! A Hideaway for Art - Weesenstein 1945“. Whatever urban castle, church, museum or other historical building you visit in Germany, the topic of the last years oft he Second World War is sure to come up at some point. Schloss Weesenstein lies outside of any city nestled away in the valley of the Müritz valley not to far from Dresden. As such it was destined to be a hideaway for the masterpieces of Dresden’s museums - and lots of wine.  The history of Schloss Weesenstein, however, starts much earlier than that. According to archaeological finds, its history began over 800 years ago. Firstly mentioned in 1318 as Weysinberg, the castle belonged to the burgraves of Dohna. Not long after, the Dohnas got involved in a feud actually bearing their name. The Dohna Feud was started in 1385 at a …
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Royal Wedding in Hanover: The Guests (Part 2)

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And here we go again, some more guests of the royal wedding in Hanover yesterday. Once again in no particular order. For more guests, have a look at my previous post. Pictures of the bridal couple here. The bride's parents on the left together with Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Alessandra de Osma (fiancée of Prince Christian), Prince Christian of Hanover and Princess Chantal of Hanover, mother of the groom. It was Prince Christian who led a round of rousing applause for his brother and sister-in-law. Princess Alexandra and Alessandra de Osma. Prince Christian. Princess Alexandra Princess Chantal, mother of the groom. Baron Christian of Humboldt-Dachroeden, illegitimate son of the groom's grandfather, and his wife Baroness Marie.  Countess Marie of Hochberg, née Princess of Hanover and aunt of the groom.  Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen, cousin of the groom.  Martin Kind, businessman and president of the local football club, Hannover 96.  Prince Berthold of Baden.  O…
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CastleTalk: The Curious Case of the Thurn und Taxis Inheritance

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The death of Richard Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg earlier this week saw a surge in interest in my take on the (in)famous will of inheritance looming over the family. One point about the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg inheritance that many seem to find especially curious is the fact that the late Prince Richard never actually owned his family's fortune but that it was instead passed from his father - who went missing during World War 2 - to a yet unborn grandson - who was born in 1969 - (or anyone else, really, who would inherit after Prince Richard). The German nobility, however, isn't short of interesting inheritance constructions - case in point: The Thurn und Taxis inheritance.
The Thurn und Taxis family isn't just famous for their fabulous wealth, estimated at around $ 2.5 billion today - even though Princess Gloria of Thurn und Taxis says it less than a billion - but also for their lifestyle to go along with it. In fact, Princess Gloria of Thurn und Taxis may si…
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