Above the town of Treffurt on the Werra lies the well-preserved ruins of Normannstein Castle directly on the state border between Thuringia and Hesse. Presumably built in the 9th century, the castle served as a control point for the Werra valley. From 1200 onwards, it was converted into a castle under the lords of Treffurt. As part of these building measures, the Romanesque round tower was supplemented by two square towers, a gate building and a squire’s building – all made of shell limestone. In the 19th century, the ruins of Normannstein Castle passed into private ownership. Over the years, a residential house, a hostel, a castle museum and an excursion restaurant were built here.
