Arnschwang Castle

The first documented mention of Arnschwang dates back to 1173, when a vassal of the Cham margrave residing here adopted the place name. After the Arnschwang family, the Kälbl, Püdensdorfer, and Sattelbogener families followed in the 14th century. From 1426, the region suffered multiple attacks and pillaging by Hussites. A notable figure was the Arnschwang knight Erasmus Sattelbogen, who in 1431 was the only one to lead his forces home after a defeat of the imperial army in Bohemia. In 1489, the then lord of the castle, Sigmund von Sattelbogen, rebelled against the Bavarian duke in the so-called 'Löwlerkrieg', leading to Arnschwang being plundered and the castle destroyed. Between 1527 and 1612, the Hofmark Arnschwang belonged to the Franconian Fuchs von Wallburg family. During the Thirty Years' War, the village was plundered twice by Swedish troops. After the first invasion in 1633, the plague claimed over 280 lives, prompting the inhabitants to vow an annual pilgrimage to Weißenregen, a tradition that continues to this day.