Stein Castle

The origins of Stein Castle date back to the early 11th century, emerging around the year 1000. By 1028, it was transferred by the Walpoten to the Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg. Bishop Rupert of Bamberg utilized the lordship of Stein around 1077 for the foundation of St. Jakob's Abbey in Bamberg. After a period of decay in the 13th or early 14th century, the castle was rebuilt in 1342 with the consent of Bamberg Bishop Leopold by Heinrich, Friedrich, and Heilmann von Hirschberg. It subsequently served as a border fortress for Bamberg against the Burgraves of Nuremberg. In 1363, the castle passed to Rüdiger von Sparneck. Later, towards the end of the 15th century, the Sparnecks pledged the castle to the Bavarian dukes, before Margrave Friedrich I of Brandenburg redeemed it in 1488, making it a margravial administrative castle. After the Thirty Years' War, the complex gradually fell into disrepair and was sold into private hands in 1684.