Schloss Greifenstein

Heiligenstadt in Oberfranken, Germany, Germany

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Schloss Greifenstein is a historic castle perched on a hill above Heiligenstadt in the Franconian Switzerland region of Bavaria.

First mentioned in 1172, the fortress was damaged during the German Peasants’ War in 1525 and later transformed into a Baroque hunting castle by Prince-Bishop Marquard Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg in the late 17th century. Since 1691, the castle has been owned by the Schenk von Stauffenberg family and remains their residence today.

Its distinctive white exterior, towers, historic chapel, and centuries-old linden avenue make it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Franconian Switzerland. Visitors can explore parts of the castle, including its impressive collections of weapons, hunting trophies, antiques, and historic furnishings. Rather than functioning solely as a museum, Schloss Greifenstein offers a rare glimpse into a castle that has remained a lived-in family residence for centuries.