Söldenau Castle

Söldenau Castle is a castle in the Söldenau district of Ortenburg in Bavaria (Germany). The four-wing complex was built in 1320 by Schweiker II. Tuschl, Knight of Söldenau. The original name of the castle was Säldenau and is based on the word Sälde, which means luck or lucky meadow. The current Saldenburg was also named after Söldenau, which was also built by the Tuschl knights in 1368. In 1397, the Tuschl family died out, and the owners of the castle subsequently changed several times.

Already in 1426, an inheritance dispute arose over the estates. Count Heinrich V of Ortenburg had married Ursula von Ecker zu Saldenburg and, after the death of his father-in-law, disputed his inheritance. This involved not only Söldenau, but also estates around Saldenburg and Rainding. The first arbitration award by Duke Johann III of Lower Bavaria-Straubing, in which Heinrich was awarded a quarter of the inheritance, remained unsuccessful. Another attempt by Duke Heinrich XVI in 1442 also failed. The dispute was only settled in 1445 when the areas around Saldenburg were sold to the Bavarian Duke.

Through the marriage of Ulrich II of Ortenburg to Veronika von Aichberg, another inheritance dispute arose over Söldenau. This had meanwhile fallen to the Aichberg family. After the death of his father-in-law in 1511, his heirs disputed the rich inheritance. However, this involved not only the extensive possessions, the County of Hals, the castles and lordships of Moos, Söldenau and Saldenburg, but also his large debts. The conflict dragged on until 1517, when Duke Ludwig X of Bavaria intervened. He acquired the County of Hals and thereby settled the debts. The remaining estates were then divided among the heirs. Ulrich was awarded the castles of Saldenburg and Söldenau, along with their associated Hofmarken. Söldenau Castle then remained in the possession of the Ortenburg Counts until 1805.

In 1805, Count Joseph Carl exchanged the Imperial County and all Bavarian possessions of the Counts, including Söldenau, for the Tambach monastery office, which originated from secularized estates.

The castle was still inhabited until the mid-1990s. Parts of the castle complex have been gradually renovated, but large parts of the castle still require renovation. Söldenau Castle is an original moated castle, which was surrounded on all sides by a moat. The nearby Wolfach was diverted for the complex. The moat is now only preserved on one side and is located between the former park and the former railway embankment of the Vilshofen-Ortenburg railway line, on which a cycle path now runs. The associated railway station has been dissolved. The area now contains the car park of the Söldenau Volunteer Fire Brigade and an access point to the castle's brewery.

The castle has 45 rooms and a floor area of approximately 2000 m². The extensive property of the complex covers approx. 8000 m². The castle complex is privately owned and not accessible to the public.