Wernsdorf Castle

Schloss Wernsdorf supposedly stands on the remains of a fortified castle that was built in 790 AD by Charlemagne. This castle was one of the Eckpunkte des Abendlandes (the “cornerstones of the West”), and was on a trade route that led into the Slavic countries. The structure that stands there today was first documented in 1114. The Bishop of Bamberg at that time was the lord of the castle.

In 1620, the Bishop Johann Gottfried I. von Aschhausen further developed the castle. It was then used as a hunting lodge, and had next to it a sheep stall, hops garden and a brewery.

In 1803, the castle chapel and the fortified wall encircling the inner courtyard were demolished. In the following years, the property deteriorated quickly from the inside, due mainly to frequently changing owners, until the royal forester Andreas Eisfelder restored the castle in 1896. After 1945, the castle served as refugee accommodations.

In 1993, the Capella Antiqua Bambergensis bought the property, which had again fallen into poor condition. The timber framing was almost completely destroyed by dry rot and wood worms. The floors were molded, and in several places the ceilings had collapsed. There was no electricity, no sanitation and no heating. After over 30,000 hours of work, the music group re-opened the castle and the park to the public.