Welcome to the official Website of the Administration of the Public Stately Homes&Gardens in Hesse

In the federal state of Hesse, at the heart of Germany, about forty important sites bearing witness to the architectural and artistic history of the last 2000 years are held in public trust by Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Hessen. These sites include Roman fortresses on the ”Limes” (the Roman frontier), medieval churches and abbeys, castles and defences, stately homes and gardens.

The trust is, on the one hand, an administrative body responsible for the upkeep of these cultural assets, and on the other, an educational institution addressing cultural, historical, ecological, economic and social objectives.

As a public agency of the State of Hesse, its articled remit is to preserve, research and repair Hesse’s legacy of art and history and to make it accessible to the public.

Many of these total art works – buildings which have evolved over time along with their contents and the grounds in which they are set – are:

–    landmarks or symbols of local identity and authenticity,

–    age-old treasuries of nature and human culture,

–    places for education, recreation and contemplation,

–    workshops for the arts and crafts,

–    cradles of environmental protection with a high workplace identity.

Some 400 members of staff combine highly skilled care for the cultural and natural heritage for which they have assumed charge with a widely diverse presentation of history aimed at conveying to visitors the value and significance of each particular site.

Each year, millions of people make use of these wide-ranging opportunities to visit our monuments. The programme of events includes cultural highlights, such as the Bad Hersfeld Theatre Festival and the Weilburg Palace Concerts, but also local or private events organised with respect and understanding for the heritage in which they are set.