Burg Wernfels

Burg Wernfels stands on a wooded ridge above the Rezat valley in Mittelfranken. It overlooks the village of Wernfels and is visible from nearby Burg Abenberg. The oldest part is a large residential building from the late 13th century, built by the Rindsmaul family. In 1284 the castle passed to the Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt, who expanded it with a ring wall and gate tower. Later bishops added a chapel and further buildings in the 14th to 18th centuries. The castle’s main building is a three-storey structure of ashlar blocks with a smaller wing attached. A stone bridge leads over the former neck ditch to the gatehouse, which still shows its medieval portcullis track. Inside, the first floor preserves traces of the original great hall with its arcaded windows. The ring wall encloses a rectangular courtyard about forty-five by fifty metres across. A small Baroque building and the remains of a medieval chapel stand within the enclosure. Today Burg Wernfels belongs to the Bavarian YMCA and serves as a youth hostel with 220 beds. Regular events include concerts, festivals and services. A lift installed in 2004 provides barrier-free access, and a heated outdoor pool is open in summer. The site combines medieval fabric with modern amenities, offering a quiet retreat in the Franconian countryside.