Schloss Pyrbaum

Schloss Pyrbaum stands in the village of Pyrbaum in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria. Once a medieval castle, it became a grand Renaissance residence in the late 15th century. The Wolfstein family ruled the area for about four centuries after gaining control through marriage in 1354. The castle was built by Freiherr Wilhelm II. von Wolfstein in 1493 and featured a three-storey main building with a high hipped roof and four round towers. A moat protected the complex, crossed by a bridge leading to the castle and the nearby church. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1853, allegedly set by its tenants, Michael Flier and his wife, who were arrested during the blaze. After the fire, the castle was dismantled and its sandstone blocks reused in local buildings. Today, only remnants remain: the moat with its retaining wall, fragments of the castle’s foundations, and a round sandstone tower base from one of the double gate towers. A replica of the original foundation inscription marks the site, and the Catholic church Mater Dolorosa, built in 1886 on the former castle church’s foundations, now occupies the castle square. Visitors can still see the preserved moat and its stone lining, along with the exposed foundations of the main building. The round tower base stands near the former gate, offering a sense of the castle’s original scale. The replica inscription provides a link to the past, while the church serves as a reminder of the site’s layered history. The area around the castle ruins remains quiet, allowing a contemplative walk through what was once a powerful noble seat.