Wolfstein Castle

The Wolfstein Castle Ruin is a former noble castle from the 12th century in the urban area of Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate, in the district of the same name in the Upper Palatinate, Bavaria.

The castle ruin of the hilltop castle is located in the central part of the Franconian Alb on the highest point of the Wolfsteinberg, which rises northeast of the Neumarkt valley basin. Southwest and north of the castle are the village of Schafhof and the district of Labersricht.

The exact origins of Wolfstein Castle as the seat of the noble family of the same name cannot be definitively clarified to this day. Around 1120, a certain Ullrich von Wolfstein is said to have been the lord of the castle, but evidence is lacking. Archaeological excavations in recent years suggest a construction in the middle of the 12th century.

The castle is historically documented from 1283. Gottfried von Sulzbürg adopted the name Wolfstein and founded the noble family. By the middle of the 14th century, the influence and possessions of the Wolfsteiners grew considerably; they dominated large parts of the Neumarkt area. King Charles IV granted the right to establish a town below the castle, which was to have the same privileges as the neighboring Neumarkt, a plan that was never carried out.

In 1434, Emperor Sigismund legally equated the castle with the city of Neumarkt, which led to considerable differences with the ruling Wittelsbach Palatine Counts, who repeatedly tried to incorporate the castle into the Neumarkt possessions.

However, they only succeeded under Otto II of Neumarkt. Previously, Otto I had put so much pressure on the Wolfsteiners that they accepted the Bohemian king as their protector and pledged the castle to him. However, in 1462, Hans von Wolfstein (the "mad Hans") died childless, so the Bohemian king confiscated the castle and finally re-granted the fief to Vizthum von Neuschönenberg. Otto II bought the castle and its possessions from him and incorporated it into the princely domain.

The castle became a Neumarkt administrative office; until the 16th century, it was administered by a governor but lost importance. In the Landshut War of Succession in 1504, it suffered severe damage, followed by extensive repairs.

In 1670, it was reported that the castle had "fundamentally decayed". It was abandoned, a planned renovation was no longer carried out, and the complex fell into disrepair.