Rodenstein Castle

Hessen · Germany · Ruin

When war threatens, the Rodensteiner is said to ride through the air with his ghost army – witness accounts were officially recorded from 1742 to 1796.

The castle ruin of Rodenstein in the Odenwald is home to one of Germany's most famous spectral army legends. The Rodensteiner, also called the Lord of Schnellerts, rides with his thundering ghost host through the air from the Schnellerts ruin to Rodenstein whenever war threatens – returning in silence when peace comes. His route passes straight through a farmhouse in the valley, where doors are said to fly open on their own as the host sweeps by. Remarkably, the phenomenon was taken quite seriously: between 1742 and 1796 the Counts of Erbach had sworn witness statements recorded in the so-called Reichenberg Protocols. The legend went on to inspire generations of poets and balladeers.

FAQ

Where is Rodenstein Castle located?

Rodenstein Castle is in Hessen, Germany.

Image: Haselburg-müller / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons