Schloss Köditz

Schloss Köditz stands in the village of Köditz in Upper Franconia. It is a castle and a listed building. The first known owner was the von Reitzenstein family, who sold it in 1620 to the Radisborski von Sechzebus family of Bohemian exiles. Later it passed through Johann Paul Joditzer, who gave the Leonhardskirche pulpit, to the von Falkenstein family. In the late 17th century they enlarged the castle, added a Baroque garden and increased the estate. They also rebuilt the Leonhardskirche after the Thirty Years’ War. The von Falkenstein family divided into different lines and in 1764 the property went to the Oerthel family of Hof. The present appearance dates from the 18th century, though the castle still contains a late medieval core. The Leonhardskirche nearby was restored at the same time as the castle’s expansion. The Baroque garden once stretched farther than it does today, but traces of its layout remain. Visitors find a castle whose exterior reflects 18th-century tastes. Inside, parts of the medieval structure survive behind later additions. The Leonhardskirche nearby keeps its pulpit donated by Johann Paul Joditzer. The grounds include the remains of the Baroque garden, with paths and planting that recall its former design. The village of Köditz surrounds the castle, giving a quiet rural setting.