Burgruine Weißenstein

The landmark of the nature park

One of the most popular excursion destinations and at the same time the landmark of the Steinwald Nature Park is the Weißenstein Castle ruins, located at an altitude of 858 meters.

History & Architecture

Weißenstein Castle was first documented in 1279 as "Wisstenstein." It was founded by the Weißenstein family, and its successors around 1300 were the Nothaffts, a once highly influential noble family. However, the castle was likely abandoned around 1560 and fell into disrepair. The Nothafft family chose more comfortable residences in the neighboring villages of Poppenreuth and Friedenfels. Life up in the Steinwald forest was incredibly arduous. There probably wasn't even a well there.

The castle was acquired in 1882 by Bianca Eiserhart, a member of a Silesian factory family. After her death in 1885, it passed to Dr. Gustav Siegle of Stuttgart, who inherited it in 1918 to his daughter Dora and her husband, Fritz von Gemmingen-Hornberg. Today, it is owned by his grandson, Eberhard Freiherr von Gemmingen-Hornberg of Friedenfels.

The construction method, which was carried out in harmony with nature, is remarkable. Considerable savings were made on materials and labor by incorporating the walls of the knight's castle into the woolsack towers of a natural rock fortress.

The name of the Steinwald Nature Park also likely derives from the ruins. The Weißenstein Forest eventually became the "Steiner Forest," or Stone Forest.

By 1995, hardly anything remained of the castle ruins, the keep, and the rock castle. From 1996 to the present, the Steinwaldia Pullenreuth eV (Stone Forest Association) has invested considerable time and money in restoring and preserving the castle.

Incidentally, it's said to haunt the castle ruins. According to an old legend, a white woman lives somewhere here. Whenever a member of the Nothaffte family, the castle's former owners, dies, she leaves her hiding place and makes her way to the current owners, i.e., the castle in Friedenfels. The loud wailing of the Stone Forest ghost then echoes through the night until the Nothafft family member is buried. Of course, Weissenstein, at least according to legend, also holds a hidden treasure. A magic ring, brought back from a crusade by a Nothafft family member, is said to be waiting for its discoverer near the ruins.

Art at the castle

Mutter Erde - Gaja - an der Burgruine Weißenstein, dem Wahrzeichen im Naturpark Steinwald.

Wer das Gemäuer am Tage besucht, kann auch einen ganz besonderen "Farbtupfer" entdecken. Auf dem Gelände der Burgruine ist seit 2009 eine lebensgroße Bronzeplastik zu sehen. Burgherr Freiherr von Gemmingen-Hornberg hat mit dem Werk von Engelbert Süss, einem Künstler, der aus Mitterteich stammt und heute in Pfreimd lebt, Mutter Erde ein Denkmal gesetzt. Mit ihren sinnlichen Formen und dem wallenden Haar ist sie ein faszinierendes Bindeglied zwischen Himmel und Erde. Im weitesten Sinne also die Mutter Erde. Der Baron hat hiermit seinen Wunsch, Kunst an der Burganlage zu installieren, verwirklicht.

Lage

From the Weißenstein hiking car park in Hohenhard near Waldershof (Kalvarienbergstraße, 95679 Waldershof), the Weißenstein ruins can be reached on foot in about half an hour. Simply follow the "yellow S," the symbol of the Goldsteig main hiking trail.

The two long-distance hiking trails Goldsteig and Fränkischer Gebirgsweg cross directly at the ruins.

Hiking & cycling trails

From the hiking car park in Hohenhard near Waldershof, near the Marktredwitzer Haus restaurant, the Weißenstein ruins can be reached on foot in about half an hour. Simply follow the "yellow S," the symbol of the Goldsteig main hiking trail (stage 1).

The two long-distance hiking trails Goldsteig and Fränkischer Gebirgsweg cross directly at the ruins.