The castle Veldenstein is northeast of the Pegnitz at the southern end of the nature park Veldensteiner forest, approx. 30 km a large, well received medieval weir system above new house to from Nuremberg in Franconia, Bavaria.

History of the castle

The year of building the castle Veldenstein as well as the name of the designer are unknown. As a designer the bishop von is applicable, which on behalf of Konrad IITH border attachments at the north border of his diocese let build (around 1008). It would be in addition, possible that the castle was only built among emperors Friedrich II. (1212-1250).

1269 are mentioned documentary for the first time the castle as "“new fact castrum"” (the new house). At that time the castle already belonged to administrative seat, the Bamberger of bishops for the surrounding to the diocese Bamberg and was office castle, thus. 1323 were called for the first time the castle Veldenstein.

First simple farmers were office men on the castle, who also the farms at the castle mountain, which belonged to so-called Burghutungen. The castle was at this time hardly larger than the range of the Bergfriedes.Ab that 14. Jh. came then for the first time aristocrat as representatives of the bishop to Veldenstein. The lay gentlemen of disturb, from Egloffstein and from Wiesenthau kept the administrative castle of the bishop and the office later to Lehen.Hans from Egloffstein builds thereupon at the beginning 15. Jhs. the internal castle.

After bishop Georg I. of foam mountain (1449-1475) redeemed the castle of the Egloffsteinern, its successor Philipp count von Henneberg (1475-1487) made enormous extensions for time at that time and built the exterior castle and the walk along the battlements kennel. It made the castle for the first time the residence castle of the bishop, and in the consequence each bishop came at least once to Veldenstein, in order to receive the Erbhuldigung of its subjects.

The castle was fastened strong and withstood some attacks, but in 16. and 17. Jhd. several times the owner changed by transfers and (back) conquests, so that the castle was finally occupied in the meantime by Brandenburgern, and in the war 1632 of Sweden, which three years followed later Bavaria.

Finally again the Bamberger of bishops on Veldenstein resided, until the castle was destroyed to a large extent 1708 by a lightning strike into the powder tower. The interest of the bishops shrank and the ruin purged more and more.

1807 were dissolved the upper office Veldenstein. New house fell due to the secularization according to peace treaty of with Bonaparte at Bavaria, whereby the office area between Prussia and Bavaria was divided, whose border went in the middle until 1972 through the today's market municipality.

Since the purged castle for Bavaria was not from interest, it was sold to private individuals and changed several times the owner.

Wolfgang Brunnhuber sold his entire possession on the castle Veldenstein on 8 October 1861 by 1300 guldens and 44 guldens Leikauf to the retired regional court functionary Carl Heinrich Friedrich August May, from 8 October 1853-1862 as a land judge there actively been, died on 8 June 1873 on castle Veldenstein. Because of and/or despite disputes with May Anna storm, the tower, sold the former upper office dwelling, the Hauptportal and all walls to him on 15 September 1863 for 300 guldens, so that the castle was again in a hand. 1863 development of a suitable residential building on the castle. The grain box was replaced and in its place a manor-house in the style 19. Century establishes. Not too for a long time the land judge could enjoy May of unimpaired possession before it died. His widow Anna Regina May began together with their 5 children the inheritance of the castle. A building section of 1871-1878 under engineer G.C.Hennch, accomplished renovations, wanted the castle to receive and provided so for the widow May a building subsidy for the restoration of the tower, which was completed 1875. It let the building ring 1890 recondition then still.

The owner sold the castle on 29 November 1897 to the Jewish medical officer Dr. med. Hermann of Epenstein, landowner in Berlin, for 20.000 Marks. Epenstein strove to show the castle their former appearance and spent until 1914 a million Mark on the repair. The stone-cutter master Johann was assigned by him the development of the castle, is again repaired in a nearly 10-year old construction period the walls, towers and gates.

In this time also the friendly family Heinrich lived in the manor-house of the castle Veldenstein. Their son Hermann whose godfather was Hermann of Epenstein, went into new house and Velden to the school.

After the death of her man the widow Elizabeth von Epenstein (geb. Schdrowicz) sold the castle 1939 to the "“second man at that time"” of the National Socialist regime, Hermann let the castle likewise constantly recondition and for 1942 under the manor-house a bomb-safe shelter with own current, air and water supply build. The "“realm hunt leader"” came regularly to the hunt for Veldenstein and let the Pegnitztalstrasse asphalt. The desire of the Neuhauser for a public swimming pool it pointed however with the delivered words "“if I means ass into the Pegnitz to hold could, can the Neuhauser"” also back.

1945 was conquered new house and the castle after short combat by the Americans, who took accomodation in the castle and which dug up castle with pneumatic hammers. "“Gold fever"” had broken out by the rumor, to in the last war days the art treasures brought by its messuage except danger after Veldenstein sent. Finally however only one crate with 36 - nevertheless very much old Tischleuchtern and wine, sparkling wine and Cognac was found.

When the Americans took off, refugees found accomodation in the castle up to 100. From this time also the trace of a partition clearly recognizable in the parquet originates by the northeast tower.

1950 became the Free State of Bavaria owner of the castle and placed these under monument protection.

Starting from 1968 the plant was used by a Falknerei, before 1972 the local emperors P¤chterin of the castle became. The former manor-house was converted to the hotel restaurant and the castle plant 1974 of the public was made accessible; in addition are some private dwellings on the area.

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