Sandersdorf Castle

Altmannstein, Germany, Germany

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Sandersdorf Castle (Schloss Sandersdorf) is a Renaissance castle in the village of Sandersdorf, part of Altmannstein in Bavaria.

Built on the foundations of a medieval fortress first established in the 12th century, the castle stands on a ridge overlooking the Schambach Valley and has long been associated with the region’s noble families. The original castle was damaged and rebuilt several times, including after being burned during a Bavarian conflict in 1420 and again after destruction in the Thirty Years’ War.

Its present four-winged form dates largely from 1646 and reflects the transition from a defensive stronghold to a stately residence. The castle is also known for its connection to the de Bassus family and the Enlightenment-era Illuminati movement. Today, it remains an important historic landmark, admired for its Renaissance architecture, chapel, gatehouse, and centuries of Bavarian history.