Eager for Christmas
View of Faber Castel Mansion in the gardens of Faber-Castell Castle during the Christmas market "Winter Dreams", Stein near Nuremberg, Franconia (Bavaria), Germany
Some background information:
Being held already in mid-November, the annual pre-Christmas fair "Winter Dreams" at Faber Castell Castle in Stein near Nuremberg is definitely the earliest Christmas market in our region. It takes place both in the gardens and the interiors of Faber Castell Castle that is sometimes also called "pencil castle", because it’s the ancestral seat of the noble family von Faber-Castell, which gained wealth by the manufacturing of pencils.
From 1843 to 1846, the so-called Old Castle was designed and built in the Neo-Renaissance style by the architect Friedrich Bürklein for Lothar von Faber. In 1903, the Faber-Castell family also commissioned the construction of the New Castle based on plans by Theodor von Kramer in the style of German Romanesque architecture. The two parts are connected by an elaborately structured, five-storey tower through which the gate passage runs.
The family used to live in the castle until 1939, when it was confiscated by the Wehrmacht. After the end of World War II American occupation troops moved into the building. But when the famous Nuremberg Trials had begun in 1948, the castle was converted into a sleeping accommodation for the many international journalists, who reported on the court proceedings. In 1953, the last Americans left the castle and it was returned to the family, who did not move back in themselves. After decades of neglect, Anton-Wolfgang Count von Faber-Castell initiated the renovation and inventorying of the castle, and since 1986 the complex has once again been used for events.
In the last few years the castle was fully renovated. It is now used as a place of different events, such as the Christmas market. One weekend a month Faber Castell Castle also opens its doors for visitors, who are interested in the interior of the building. We already grabbed this chance and were quite surprised about its interesting and richly ornamented art noveau décor with lots of marble used.
The mansion is part of the historic complex surrounding Faber-Castell Castle. It was built for Wilhelm von Faber-Castell and is located directly in the castle gardens, which originally covered around 30 hectares and were laid out in the 19th century as an English-style landscape garden. The mansion predates the main castle and originally served as the representative residence of the Faber-Castell family. However, today, the building is used as an office space rather than a family residence.
With its headquarters and huge production sheds in the immediate vicinity of the castle, Faber-Castell is the biggest pencil manufacturing company around the world. In altogether 14 production centres it employs a staff of 7,000 on a global scale. Founded already in 1761 by the cabinet maker Kaspar Faber, whose grandson Lothar was ennobled in 1888, the company soon took off, favoured by the beginning industrial revolution.
In 1900, after the marriage of Lothar von Faber’s granddaughter baroness Ottilie von Faber with count Alexander von Castell-Ruedenhausen, the enterprise was renamed Faber-Castell. At that time also a new logo was implemented, the "jousting knights", which is still the company’s logo at the present day. In 1901 Alexander was granted the hereditary title of prince as well as count von Faber-Castell by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria. Nowadays the family continues to be ranked with the reigning dynasties of Europe and belongs to the German high nobility.
A Merry Christmas 2025 to all of you! Have a great festive season together with your families and friends!
Eager for Christmas
View of Faber Castel Mansion in the gardens of Faber-Castell Castle during the Christmas market "Winter Dreams", Stein near Nuremberg, Franconia (Bavaria), Germany
Some background information:
Being held already in mid-November, the annual pre-Christmas fair "Winter Dreams" at Faber Castell Castle in Stein near Nuremberg is definitely the earliest Christmas market in our region. It takes place both in the gardens and the interiors of Faber Castell Castle that is sometimes also called "pencil castle", because it’s the ancestral seat of the noble family von Faber-Castell, which gained wealth by the manufacturing of pencils.
From 1843 to 1846, the so-called Old Castle was designed and built in the Neo-Renaissance style by the architect Friedrich Bürklein for Lothar von Faber. In 1903, the Faber-Castell family also commissioned the construction of the New Castle based on plans by Theodor von Kramer in the style of German Romanesque architecture. The two parts are connected by an elaborately structured, five-storey tower through which the gate passage runs.
The family used to live in the castle until 1939, when it was confiscated by the Wehrmacht. After the end of World War II American occupation troops moved into the building. But when the famous Nuremberg Trials had begun in 1948, the castle was converted into a sleeping accommodation for the many international journalists, who reported on the court proceedings. In 1953, the last Americans left the castle and it was returned to the family, who did not move back in themselves. After decades of neglect, Anton-Wolfgang Count von Faber-Castell initiated the renovation and inventorying of the castle, and since 1986 the complex has once again been used for events.
In the last few years the castle was fully renovated. It is now used as a place of different events, such as the Christmas market. One weekend a month Faber Castell Castle also opens its doors for visitors, who are interested in the interior of the building. We already grabbed this chance and were quite surprised about its interesting and richly ornamented art noveau décor with lots of marble used.
The mansion is part of the historic complex surrounding Faber-Castell Castle. It was built for Wilhelm von Faber-Castell and is located directly in the castle gardens, which originally covered around 30 hectares and were laid out in the 19th century as an English-style landscape garden. The mansion predates the main castle and originally served as the representative residence of the Faber-Castell family. However, today, the building is used as an office space rather than a family residence.
With its headquarters and huge production sheds in the immediate vicinity of the castle, Faber-Castell is the biggest pencil manufacturing company around the world. In altogether 14 production centres it employs a staff of 7,000 on a global scale. Founded already in 1761 by the cabinet maker Kaspar Faber, whose grandson Lothar was ennobled in 1888, the company soon took off, favoured by the beginning industrial revolution.
In 1900, after the marriage of Lothar von Faber’s granddaughter baroness Ottilie von Faber with count Alexander von Castell-Ruedenhausen, the enterprise was renamed Faber-Castell. At that time also a new logo was implemented, the "jousting knights", which is still the company’s logo at the present day. In 1901 Alexander was granted the hereditary title of prince as well as count von Faber-Castell by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria. Nowadays the family continues to be ranked with the reigning dynasties of Europe and belongs to the German high nobility.
A Merry Christmas 2025 to all of you! Have a great festive season together with your families and friends!