Lichtenberg Castle

Schloss Lichtenberg stood on the right bank of the Lech, south of Scheuring in Upper Bavaria. It overlooked a bridge that once crossed the river, leading some to think it might have begun as a Roman fort. The site became home to an aristocratic family in the 13th century, but by the 14th century their line had died out. The last known member, Erhard von Lichtenberg, witnessed treaties after the Battle of Gammelsdorf in 1314. The castle passed through several noble hands before being sold in 1354 to Konrad von Freiberg for five and a half thousand gulden. It later became a pawn in the rivalry between dukes, changing sides during the war between Ludwig the Bearded and his brothers. In 1492 Duke Wolfgang used the fortress to launch raids against his brother Albrecht, until forced to retreat in 1506. He spent his last years there, dying in 1514. After a brief private ownership by Georg Regel, the castle returned to Bavarian dukes. It was rebuilt in the late 17th century as a three-storey hunting lodge for Maximilian II Emanuel. The new palace hosted hunts with trained falcons and gatherings of the court. By the early 19th century it had fallen into ruin and was demolished in 1806, leaving only fragments of walls and a surviving hunting lodge in the park.