Wernstein Castle was built between 1362 and 1376 to replace a previous destroyed structure. It was first mentioned in a document when Heinrich von Künsberg endowed the chapel in Veitlahm with the provision that the local clergy should read weekly masses 'at Wernstein.' The castle has been continuously owned by the von Künsberg family since then. It was a fief of the Burggraves of Nuremberg, and the first recorded feudal letter dates back to January 20, 1395, when Ulrich von Künsberg was granted 'Wernstein the fortress and the enclosure' by Burggraf Johann III. In the 16th century, Hans Friedrich von Künsberg transformed the castle into a magnificent Renaissance palace. The castle suffered damage during the Thirty Years' War but was later repaired. Wernstein Castle is considered one of the most beautiful hilltop castles in the Franconian region. It is still inhabited by the descendants of its builders and is not open to the public for visits.
Saint-Émilion is a picturesque medieval village renowned for its well-preserved architecture and vineyards. The town and surrounding vineyards was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, owing to its long, living history of wine-making, Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow streets.
An oppidum was built on the hill overlooking the present-day city in Gaulish times, before the regions was annexed by Augustus in 27 BC. The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.
Because the region was located on the route of the Camino de Santiago, many monasteries and churches were built during the Middle Ages, and in 1199, while under Plantagenet rule, the town was granted full rights.