Waldeck

Waldeck is a name used for several related places and a historic political entity in Germany. It can refer to a town, a fortress, a historic state, and the noble family that once ruled in the region.

The town of Waldeck lies in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated in the northern part of the state in the Eder valley and is dominated by Waldeck Castle, a hilltop fortress that dates back to the medieval period and gave its name to the Counts of Waldeck.

Waldeck Castle (Burg Waldeck) remains a notable landmark near the town. The fortress is associated with the early rulers of the region and laid the foundations for the later county and principality that bore the Waldeck name.

Historically, Waldeck became part of the small sovereign state known as the County of Waldeck, which later formed the Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1712. This state existed within the Holy Roman Empire and, later, the German Confederation, under the House of Waldeck, until the end of the German monarchy in 1918. After 1918, the territory was incorporated into Prussia and, in the subsequent postwar reorganization, became part of the modern state of Hesse.

The name Waldeck also persists as a surname associated with the historical noble family. In addition, the modern rural district of Waldeck-Frankenberg in Hesse continues to carry the historical designation, reflecting the region’s historic roots.