Blankenberg Castle

Blankenberg Castle stood on a mountain bordering the current Neufelden train station. There, the Bairachbach (formerly Bayrabach) flows into the Große Mühl. At the site of the castle, which is now covered by a forest, there are still meters-long wall remains, presumably from the castle's enclosures.

In the area of Blankenburg, after 1000, the high-ranking noble families of the Schönheringer (Planchenburch) settled with their noble retainers (Ulricher, Elmer, Gruber). They erected the fortress or Blankenberg Castle.

Known or presumed owners of Blankenberg Castle were:

• Around 1108, the castle was owned by Eppo von Formbach, Count of Windberg, who died on May 4, 1110.
• Under Engelbert II von Schönhering-Blankenberg, lord of the castle from at least 1155 to at least 1182, the fortress included extensive possessions along the Große Mühl, reaching to the Danube.
• In 1180, Siboto I von Blankenberg appears as a castle guardian and vassal in a document.
• In 1206, a Ullo von Blankenberg is mentioned in a document.
• Witiko von Prčice und Blankenberg presumably married Kunigunde, the widow of Engelbert II, around 1191. Between 1192 and 1194, he acquired Blankenberg Castle and a part of the Blankenberg fiefs, which were in Passau possession and confirmed to him by Bishop Wolfger von Erla. This area stretched along the left bank of the Große Mühl to the Danube. Witiko could not assert himself in the other Blankenberg territories. For the years 1209 and 1220, in addition to his predicate "von Prčice", the predicate "de Plankinberg" is also documented. Witiko, considered the founder of the Witigonian branch of the Rosenbergs, presumably resided initially at Blankenberg Castle, where he was presumably succeeded around 1250 by his son
• Zacharias von Prčice und Blankenberg.
• (Larger gap)
• In 1298, a Veit von Blankenberg is mentioned.
• From 1340, the castle was owned by the Schallenberger family.

Since a devastating fire during a wedding between the Blankenbergers and Tannbergers, the castle fell into disrepair.

• Blankenberg Castle

At the beginning of the 20th century, the wall courses of Blankenberg Castle were still clearly recognizable, as can be seen from Ludwig Benesch's plan sketch from 1907. Even in the 1960s, walls were still visible above ground. Today, at the location described at the beginning, earth elevations and stone formations can be found, heavily overgrown with trees and grass. However, without new excavation findings, it is difficult to determine whether parts of the vanished castle or natural earth formations are hidden beneath them.