Schloss Grünhaus bei Mertesdorf

Grünhaus Castle near Mertesdorf
On the western slope of the Ruwer Valley, opposite Mertesdorf, lies Grünhaus Castle. Behind a newly constructed Protestant chapel, the gable ends of the castle park's buildings become visible between the treetops.
Originally, it was named "ad valles" = to the valleys and belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maximin in Trier. As early as 966, Emperor Otto I confirmed this possession to the abbey. The name "Grünhaus" first appeared in 1334. In 1457, the monastery leased this estate to so-called Höfer, who, according to the farm estate regulation, were required to deliver one-fourth of the harvest to the monastery. After the first land measurement in the Electoral State of Trier in 1720, the entire vineyard ownership comprised 151,935 vines. Thus, Grünhaus was one of the largest vineyards of the imperial abbey of St. Maximin. When the possessions of the St. Maximin Monastery were secularized in 1802, Grünhaus also fell into private hands. In 1828, Grünhaus received the status of a landtag-capable knightly estate. After several changes in ownership, the well-known Saar industrialist Carl von Stumm from Neunkirchen bought the estate in 1882. Through marriage, the estate went to the von Schubert family, who still owns it today.
The residential building likely still retains its basic structure from the late Gothic period and was altered around the year 1638, as indicated by a keystone. The building is characterized by the gable on the short sides and a high gabled roof with two steep dormers. This gives the building a palace-like appearance.
The cavalier house next to this residential house, known as the Marienburg, was built in Gothic forms in the years 1857/59.
In addition to viticulture, agriculture is also practiced on the Grünhaus estate, with the associated agricultural buildings located near the castle next to the Grünhaus-Mertesdorf train station. The former ownership is still reflected today in the vineyard designations: Grünhäuser Maximiner Bruderberg, Grünhäuser Maximiner Herrenberg, Grünhäuser Maximiner Abtsberg.
Opening hours: on request