Winzer Castle (Ruin)

The Winzer Castle Ruin, also known as Oberwinzer Castle, is a castle ruin on a hill, the so-called "Schlossberg" (Castle Hill), above the market town of Winzer in the district of Deggendorf in Lower Bavaria. The ruin of the hilltop castle is freely accessible at any time.

The town of Winzer is first mentioned in a deed of gift as early as 1005. Around 1009, the Duke of Bavaria gifted the property to the Bishop of Bamberg, whose ministeriales then built Winzer Castle on already settled territory during the 11th century to protect the area and called themselves "Winzerer". In 1190, it was mentioned as an imperial fief. The Winzerers became noble knights from 1230, and their lineage died out in 1324.

From 1324 to 1558, the castle was owned by the Lords of Puchberg, and from 1558 to 1603, by the Lords of Schwarzenberg. Otto Heinrich von Schwarzenberg, who was the most powerful and wealthiest knight among all the lords of Winzer, had the castle splendidly expanded. After 1603, ownership passed to Bavaria.

On November 1, 1744, the castle was blown up during the War of the Austrian Succession by Hungarian hussars under the leadership of the Pandur leader Franz Freiherr von der Trenck.

In the 19th century, the remains of the castle were used as a quarry; later, the ruin was placed under monument protection by King Ludwig I.

From the essentially early medieval castle complex with a keep and double curtain wall, wall remnants up to about 8 meters high are still preserved.