Ah, from what I understand, the castle is only 131 years old, so it definitely has not been decorated or furnished for over 300 years, as that much time hasn’t even passed yet.

Castle Friedrichshof (now known as Schloss Kronberg) was built in 1893 in honor of the late King of Prussia and German Emperor Friedrich III by his wife, Empress Victoria.

Empress Victoria commissioned Prussian royal architect Ernst Eberhard von Ihne to design it in a blend of classic German Renaissance style with British touches, notably Tudor elements, reflecting her English heritage as the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of Britain.

Empress Victoria and her husband Friedrich III likely added commissioned or gifted pieces to the castle’s collection until their respective deaths (Friedrich III on June 15, 1888, and Empress Victoria on August 5, 1901). After her death, the castle was inherited by their youngest daughter, Princess Margaret of Prussia, who became Princess Margaret of Hesse through her marriage to Landgrave Karl Friedrich von Hessen, head of the House of Hesse. Princess Margaret preserved the castle largely as it was, with the family’s extensive art and antiques collection.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, the castle was occupied by American forces, who used it as an officers’ club. During this occupation, the Hesse family’s valuables, including priceless jewelry, were hidden by Princess Margaret’s son, Wolfgang, under the castle’s cellar in an attempt to prevent looting. Despite his efforts, three American officers discovered and stole the Hesse family jewels, smuggling them out of Germany to be sold. Although the officers were later caught, only a small percentage of the jewels were recovered.

After the American occupation ended, the Hesse family retained ownership of the castle and eventually converted it into the hotel we see today, now known as Schloss Kronberg.

The castle holds a stunning collection of art, antiques, and family heirlooms, much of which has been carefully preserved. Some pieces were collected by Empress Victoria herself, while others have been maintained by her descendants. As far as I know, most of the castle’s furnishings and artwork are original, with the addition of modern amenities for guest comfort, including WiFi, televisions, telephones, mini-bars, coffee machines, and updated bathrooms to meet contemporary standards. 

 Thanks, interesting history that I knew nothing about. Looking at Ernst von Ihne’s career, looks like his best known buildings were completed in 5ish years of construction. Relatively quick! Assembling the art collections and commissions are also quite an endeavor. 

 🏆