Burgtreswitz Castle

The origins of Burgtreswitz date back to the 12th century when the Sulzbachers founded the castle. The first written mention of the location dates to 1218, naming a knight Pernoldus von Draeswitz as a ministerialis of the Counts of Ortenburg-Murach. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the knights of “Draeswitz” ruled before the complex passed into the possession of the Wittelsbachers in 1272. For over three centuries, Treswitz was assigned to the “Pfalz bei Rhein” and was expanded into a fortress during this period. From 1304, Konrad II von Paulsdorf is attested as the first administrator. The Treswitz administrative district encompassed a wide area, and the castle gained lower jurisdiction in 1410 and high jurisdiction in 1585. In 1594, the administrative districts of Treswitz and Tännesberg were merged, with its seat in Burgtreswitz. It was not until 1628 that Treswitz became part of Bavaria again and thus an electoral Bavarian administrative and judicial district. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was destroyed by imperial troops in 1634, followed by decades of reconstruction. In 1690, the castle chapel “Zur Unbefleckten Empfängnis” was consecrated. In the 18th century, Treswitz experienced a boom under the Lichtenstern administrators, culminating in the establishment of a regional court. Renovations took place between 1734 and 1735, and again from 1779 to 1786, during which, among other things, the tower was demolished and a new gate arch was erected.