Wiesenthau Castle

Schloss Wiesenthau is a Renaissance country house standing on the northeastern edge of the village of Wiesenthau in northern Bavaria. It sits at the foot of the Ehrenbürg hill and has four corner towers from the mid-16th century. The building once had an enclosing wall, parts of which still remain. The village itself first appears in records from 1062, linked to a royal palace in nearby Forchheim. The lords of Wiesenthau served as ministeriales of the Bishopric of Bamberg from 1128 onwards.

The castle has a long history of damage and rebuilding. It was badly damaged by the Hussites in 1430 and again during the Peasants' War in 1525. A full reconstruction followed in 1566, restoring the castle to its current form. The lords of Wiesenthau held the castle as Bamberg vassals until the family died out in 1814. After a major renovation from 1985 to 1992, the building became an inn and hotel.

Visitors find a three-winged structure with four corner towers and remnants of the old enclosing wall. The inn and hotel occupy the restored Renaissance building, blending historic architecture with modern comforts. The setting at the foot of the Ehrenbürg offers views of the surrounding countryside. The village of Wiesenthau provides a quiet rural atmosphere, with the castle as its most striking landmark.