Schwarzenberg Castle

Schloss Schwarzenberg is a castle near Scheinfeld in the Franconian Steigerwald. The structural origin of the castle was a medieval fortification, which was later converted into a representative palace. The origin of the castle is still clearly visible: fortified ramparts, casemates, and defensive towers still bear witness to its former purpose. The ornate palas of the castle also stands in stark contrast from the perspective of its different architecture.

1150: First documented mention of a castle complex, which was in the possession of the Counts of Castell. However, this assumption is not undisputed, as the document could also refer to Schwarzenburg Castle near Waldmünchen. The existence of a noble family from 1215–1235, which ended with a sick canon in Würzburg in 1250, is confirmed. Shortly thereafter, the castle first appeared in the Castell inheritance division document around 1265, and the tower was mentioned in 1274.

1405–1421: After being owned by the families of Hohenlohe and Vestenberg, Knight Erkinger von Seinsheim, ancestor of the House of Schwarzenberg, acquired the castle.

1607: Destruction of the medieval castle by fire.

1608–1618: Count Wolfgang Jacob von Schwarzenberg zu Hohenlandsberg had the castle rebuilt as a Renaissance palace. The renowned Augsburg city architect Elias Holl created the plans, and the construction was carried out by the Nuremberg master builders Jakob Wolff, father and son. The interior was renovated after the Thirty Years' War.

1646: After the death of Count Georg Ludwig von Schwarzenberg zu Hohenlandsberg, the noble seat reverted to the so-called Dutch (the future princely) line of the House of Schwarzenberg.

1670–1674: On the occasion of the elevation of the House of Schwarzenberg to Imperial Princes, the "Black Tower" was built as the last part of the construction. It marks the highest part of the castle building.

17th century: The House of Schwarzenberg shifted the focus of its rule to Vienna and Bohemia, but the castle remained the seat of government and administration of the immediate princely county of Schwarzenberg until 1806.

1940: The National Socialists confiscated the castle and established a district training castle. Towards the end of the war, German refugees were quartered there.

1945–1949: During their advance on Nuremberg, the Americans occupied the castle and used it as a hospital. It temporarily provided shelter for approximately 1000 refugees from the Baltic States as an emergency UN quarter.

1986: The Documentation Centre for the Promotion of Independent Czechoslovak Literature moved into the castle. For this purpose, Karl zu Schwarzenberg had rooms in the castle furnished. A small publishing house for printing underground literature was also established in the castle.