Rilchingen Castle Garden

After Countess Marianne von der Leyen had a salt works built near Rilchingen on the Saar in 1790, she chose this place as her retirement home. In 1791, work began on the construction of a small castle ("Annahalle"), the design of which is, of course, unknown. It was demolished as early as 1810. Since 1917, the religious community of the Brothers of Mercy of Maria-Hilf, Trier, has owned the site. The palace garden was designed by the important garden architect Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell. His description has been preserved, but unfortunately not the accompanying plan. Some of the design principles can be traced. The "genius loci" and thus the existing landscape had to be taken into account. The Saar and the meandering course of the Dorbach stream with its wooden bridge and waterfall were to be incorporated by damming. The centre of the park was to be accentuated as a grove containing a "sacrificial altar of the druids". This park was most likely not realised as the castle, which was not yet in use, was destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution. The towers of the salt works, the "Victoria Tower" and the "Tower of the Augusta Spring", have been preserved.

Use the park for a short walk and to switch off.