Thierlstein

Schloss Thierlstein stands on a bright quartz-rock ridge called the Pfahl in the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria. The site began as a single keep in the 14th century and grew into a multi-part castle. It was originally named Lichtenstein, a title recorded only once in 1367. The castle survived wars and fires with little damage, though 15th-century repairs suggest Hussite raids. A 1721 engraving by Michael Wening shows a three-storey complex with a tall tower, battlemented wall and corner turret. The present east wing still contains the round bergfried, six metres wide with two-metre walls and an entrance twelve metres above ground. Today the castle is a two-winged structure. The medieval east wing was altered around 1900, while the north wing dates from the 18th century. A granite curtain wall with double staircase, gates and a round tower encloses the courtyard. The park building, a 19th-century timber-framed hall, adds to the ensemble. Guided tours are occasionally offered during cultural events such as Christmas markets.