Kühlenfels Castle

Kühlenfels Castle was first mentioned in 1348 as a Bamberg fief, and the first resident noble family, Heinrich and Friedrich Melcher, were granted their documented usage rights by Otto von Bamberg. The Melcher coat of arms shows two crossed forks on the shield. Also documented is the transfer of the tithe from Velden to the parish estate of Pottenstein, from where ecclesiastical care was also provided.

In 1400, the Mecher property became an episcopal fief. In 1502, Ganghof Mecher sold Kühlenfels Castle to his nephews Hans and Heinz Rabensteiner. In 1521, rebellious peasants from Hallstadt plundered their way through the land around Bamberg and reached Kühlenfels in 1525. The village and castle were plundered and burned down. After this, the castle was rebuilt.

In 1563, Lorenz von Guttenberg bought the castle (an episcopal-Bamberg fief) from Hans Hektor von Rabenstein. The Lords of Guttenberg succeeded the Lords of Rabenstein in 1563. After the Thirty Years' War, the castle was described as uninhabitable until 1669. In 1820, a patrimonial court of Baron von Guttenberg was established. In 1848, the court was subordinated to the Pottenstein district court. In 1850, the castle became free (allodial) property. In 1855, the castle came into the possession of Franz Karl von Druffel through marriage. In 1936, the castle came into private ownership.

The current owner of the castle is Roland Pelz, who lives there himself and had it renovated after purchasing it. The access road was extended with a tower and a portal, and a castle park was created.