Forstenberg Castle (Ruin)

Forstenberg Castle, also known as Forstberg Castle, is the ruin of a high medieval noble castle near the Karlstein district of the Upper Palatinate municipality of Regenstauf in the Bavarian district of Regensburg in Germany.

The castle ruin is freely accessible at any time.

The hilltop castle was presumably built in the 13th century (a foundation in the 12th century is uncertain) by the Lords of Forstenberg, who were ministeriales of the powerful Lords of Hohenfels, as their ancestral seat. After 1330, the castle fell to Friedrich der Hofer, who from then on called himself "von Vorchtenberg". After several changes of ownership, the castle came into the possession of Landgrave Johann von Leuchtenberg (builder of Karlstein Castle) in 1393. The creation of an outer bailey is attributed to him, but it was not completed, as the castle went to Jakob Muracher a short time later (1404). In 1460, Heinrich Zenger acquired the castle and Karlstein Castle. The expansion of Karlstein Castle is likely the reason why Forstenberg fell into disrepair. After several changes of ownership, the castle was abandoned and completely dilapidated by the 17th century at the latest.

Of the small main castle, only the stump of the pentagonal keep made of rubble stone remains. It is separated by a deep, gorge-like moat from the much larger outer bailey. In the latter, remnants of ramparts and the neck ditch, as well as wall rubble, are still preserved.