Blaues Schloss zu Obernzenn

The Blue Castle stands beside the Red Castle in Obernzenn, a village in the middle of Mittelfranken. The site once held a medieval stronghold surrounded by a moat. The Seckendorff family first built the Blue Castle in 1696, then enlarged it in three phases up to 1758. The final wing was added by Christoph Ludwig von Seckendorff-Aberdar, who served as prime minister to the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. A stone bridge with an iron railing crosses the old moat, linking the two castles. The name comes from the blue tones used on the façade. The castle is worth visiting for its late-baroque architecture and the stories of the Seckendorff family. Gabriel de Gabrieli, court master builder, designed part of the east wing in the early 18th century. Philipp Hochstein carved the alliance coat of arms in 1759. The family rose from barons in 1706 to counts in 1810. A museum workshop now offers projects on absolutism. Plans place both castles under the care of the Messerschmitt Foundation. Inside the Blue Castle’s east wing is a picture gallery showing family portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries. The rooms are decorated with fine stucco work. Beyond the buildings, the garden layout reflects ideas possibly from Leopoldo Retty. A second bridge, made of oak and iron, spans the moat. The setting combines water, brick and plaster into a quiet ensemble that still tells the story of its makers.