Last week, in Bad Berleburg, Her Serene Highness Princess Carina of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg delivered a public lecture on the restoration of Schloss Berleburg (Berleburg Castle), offering a detailed account of the long-term preservation of the princely family’s historic residence.

The event formed part of the Wittgensteiner Heimatstammtisch, a regional series organized by the Volkshochschule Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein and the Wittgensteiner Heimatverein.

Speaking about her experience after moving to the castle in 2005 with her then partner, now husband, His Serene Highness Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the Princess reflected on the condition of the residence at that time.

Although the property had not been entirely abandoned, large sections had remained inactive following the end of the Second World War. Even after the late Princess Margareta of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg took up residence, only a relatively small portion of the castle was regularly occupied.

Upon taking up residence, Princess Carina encountered a structure marked by prolonged periods of partial dormancy. Attics and storage areas contained extensive collections of furniture, rare textiles, uniforms, porcelain, and archival materials, while many of the principal rooms remained sparsely furnished. The scale of the building underscores the complexity of its restoration, with approximately 200 rooms, 350 windows, more than 1,000 brass door handles, around a dozen staircases, and over a dozen fireplaces.

With the support of her late father-in-law, His Serene Highness Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, and in collaboration with Prince Gustav, she initiated a systematic program of restoration and reorganization. This work has included the recovery and identification of historical materials dating from the 17th through the 20th centuries. In doing so, she has worked alongside historians and art specialists, contributing to the documentation and preservation of the castle’s historical holdings.

The Princess also addressed the financial realities associated with maintaining a residence of this scale. Annual costs for maintenance and restoration are estimated to range between €500,000 and €1 million, with major structural works, including roofing, requiring significantly higher investment. She described the building as requiring continuous intervention, reflecting both its age and its architectural scale.

Current works at Schloss Berleburg represent the most extensive program of restoration undertaken at the property since the early 20th century. The project reflects a sustained commitment to the stewardship of cultural heritage and the preservation of one of Germany’s longstanding princely residences.