When there was no male heir to the Dagstuhl estate at the end of the 14th century, it was divided up among the families of the four heirs. In the course of its use by several families (as a so-called “Ganerbenburg”), the castle was extensively rebuilt until the 17th century. It was not until 1616 and 1625 that the Elector and Archbishop of Trier, Philipp Christoph von Sötern, bought the shares in the Dagstuhl estate, which had been further divided up over time, and legally established the future indivisibility of the family property in 1635. In the 18th century, the castle became increasingly dilapidated and lost its importance as a fortification and residence. In the 19th century, Baroness Octavie de Lasalle von Louisenthal built a small house within the ruins, which served as a studio for her artistic work.
Since the mid-1980s, large parts of the complex have been uncovered and opened up for tourist purposes.
In addition to various events at the castle, there is also the opportunity to experience the castle's history in a playful way. Guided tours for children, families and school classes bring castle life back to life.
