Burgwallbach Castle (Ruin)

Wallbach Castle is the remains of a moated castle in the district of Burgwallbach, part of the municipality of Schönau an der Brend in the Lower Franconian district of Rhön-Grabfeld in Bavaria.

In 1335, a "Castle of Wallpach" is mentioned for the first time. At the beginning of the 14th century, the knight brothers Heinrich and Margold Marschalk are the first known owners of Wallpach Castle and estate. They belonged to the Marschalk von Ostheim family. Their liege lords were the Counts of Henneberg, who in turn were subject to the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg.

In 1357, Prince-Bishop Albrecht II von Hohenlohe (1345–1371) besieged and destroyed the castle because the Marschalks had given shelter to his enemies. In the same year, he concluded a security agreement with the Marschalks, re-granted them the castle, and allowed them to rebuild it.

In 1489, the Marschalks von Wallpach participated in the Crusades and subsequently settled in Tyrol. In this year, Bernhard, Marschalk von Wallpach, sold the castle and all associated property to his brother-in-law, Baron Anton von Bibra, for 1172 guilders.

In 1490, Emperor Frederick III granted Wilhelm von Bibra and his brother Anton the right of blood justice, high justice, gallows, and pillory in Ober- and Niederwalbach. Wilhelm was at this time an envoy to the Pope in Rome. Innocent VIII granted him an indulgence letter for the newly built church in 1498. Pope Alexander VI renewed this indulgence letter and sent relics of the Holy Martyrs Eugenius, Felix, and Urban I for the church of Niederwallbach.

In 1525, along with all other properties of Hans von Bibra, the castle and the district of Niederwallbach (at the S-curve) with the church were destroyed in the Palatine Peasants' War.

In 1602, after the death of Heinrich von Bibra, Prince-Bishop Julius demanded the fief back because the rightful heirs of the Barons von Bibra zu Irmelshausen were Protestant. Bernhard von Bibra therefore initiated a lengthy lawsuit against the Diocese of Würzburg. (Thirty Years' War)

In 1681, the verdict was finally rendered. In a settlement, Burgwallbach was ceded to the Prince-Bishops. As compensation, the Bibras received the estate of Brennhausen in Grabfeld.

In 1790, the castle was finally destroyed, released for demolition, and used as a quarry.

Of the former castle complex, around which there was once a small lake (field name: Alter See), only remnants of walls and vaults remain.