The Counts and later Princes of Fürstenberg are among the oldest noble families in Europe. Their lineage can, with some likelihood, be traced back to the Unruochinger, a Frankish comital family from Upper Swabia during the time of Charlemagne (around 800). Definitive records establish their presence in the 11th century as Counts of Urach, with estates on the Swabian Jura and in the region of the central Neckar.

Through Agnes of Zähringen, wife of Count Egino IV of Urach, the estates of the Dukes of Zähringen in southwestern Germany passed to the House of Urach. The new coat of arms of the counts combined the eagle of the Dukes of Zähringen with the fur (vair) pattern of the Counts of Urach.

The division of assets between the brothers Conrad (holdings in the Breisgau) and Henry (Baar and the Black Forest) marked a pivotal moment. From then on, Henry adopted the name of Fürstenberg Castle, situated on the “foremost mountain” of the Länge ridge near Neudingen.

Rudolph of Habsburg, King of Germany from 1273 to 1291, enfeoffed Count Henry I of Fürstenberg with the Landgraviate of Baar. This became the nucleus of the Fürstenberg state.

Through a strategic marriage policy, several advantageous inheritances, and close ties to the House of Habsburg, the Fürstenbergs were able to expand their territories significantly.

The widow Barbara of Habsberg and her sons Ulrich and Diepolt of Habsberg sold the castle and village of Donaueschingen to Counts Henry and Wolfgang of Fürstenberg.

Through his marriage to Countess Anna of Werdenberg, Count Frederick II of Fürstenberg inherited the County of Heiligenberg north of Lake Constance, as well as the lordships of Jungnau and Trochtelfingen in 1534. Count Frederick II is the founder of the Heiligenberg branch of the Fürstenberg family.

The former castle of the Werdenberg family on Heiligenberg was transformed into a Renaissance palace. The project was commissioned by Counts Frederick and Joachim of Fürstenberg (1538–1598). In 1575, master builder Jörg Schwartzenberger took over as project leader and designed the renowned “Knights’ Hall.”

Countess Maria von Arco brought the lordship of Weitra in Lower Austria into her marriage with Count Frederick of Fürstenberg. Since then, Weitra has remained in the possession of the House of Fürstenberg.

Prince Joseph Wilhelm Ernst (1699–1762) of the Stühlingen line was the first to reunite all the estates of the House of Fürstenberg under one authority after the extinction of the Meßkirch line in 1716 and the Heiligenberg line in 1744. He is regarded as the true architect of the Fürstenberg state.

In 1723, Prince Joseph Wilhelm Ernst moved his seat of power to Donaueschingen. He constructed a new palace surrounded by a series of functional and representative buildings. The residence town was shaped in a Baroque style and, as the seat of the court and government, became a thriving economic and cultural center.

Prince Karl Egon III was no less discerning in his appreciation of art than his father, Karl Egon II. He established the renowned Princely Collections in the Karlsbau near the palace, expanded the court library, and opened the Fürstenberg archives to academic research. The traditional princely administration was reorganized, and the family estates were transformed into a business enterprise managed according to capitalist principles.

In 1896, the Swabian estates passed to Prince Max Egon II of the Bohemian line of the house. He was a devoted patron of music and founded the “Chamber Music Performances for the Advancement of Contemporary Music.” Composers such as Hindemith, Schoenberg, and Webern achieved their international breakthroughs here. To this day, the “Donaueschingen Music Days” remain a prominent forum for modern music.

Prince Max Egon assumed the Swabian family estate in 1941. A man of broad cultural interests and ambitions, he was an honorary doctor of the University of Freiburg, an art collector, and a patron of modern music at the Donaueschingen Music Days. In the year of his death, he was portrayed by the painter Graham Sutherland, considered one of the most significant portrait artists of the 20th century. Igor Stravinsky composed the piece Epitaph for the Tomb of Prince Max Egon of Fürstenberg in his memory.

Under the patronage of Prince Joachim zu Fürstenberg (1923–2002), the Donaueschingen Equestrian Tournament gained international prominence.

Prince Joachim Egon assumed leadership of the House of Fürstenberg. At the same time, the landgraviate estates of Weitra were transferred to his youngest son, Prince Johannes, through adoption.

After the death of Prince Joachim, the leadership of the House of Fürstenberg passed to his son, Heinrich. Prince Heinrich zu Fürstenberg has positioned the house for a sustainable future, further enhancing its charitable, cultural, and social significance under his leadership.

Christian is the 12th Prince of Fürstenberg. Since 2003, he has been a board member of the house, and since 2022, he has served as President and CEO of the Haus Fürstenberg Holding.