Bärnfels Castle

Obertrubach, Germany, Germany

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Bärnfels Castle is a medieval castle ruin located on a rocky hill above the village of Bärnfels in the municipality of Obertrubach, Bavaria.

It was probably built around 1330 by the noble von Egloffstein family and occupied a strategic position overlooking the surrounding Franconian Switzerland landscape. The castle was first documented in 1389 and remained associated with the Egloffstein family for many years. During the German Peasants’ War in 1525, it was heavily damaged and was never fully rebuilt, gradually becoming a ruin.

Later, the property passed to the Bishopric of Bamberg and eventually to the Bavarian state. Today, the restored ruins are freely accessible and are a popular destination for visitors and hikers. Perched on the Bergschmidtsknock rock formation, the site offers impressive views of the surrounding countryside and remains an important landmark of Franconian medieval history.