Plassenburg Castle, Kulmbach, Germany

Plassenburg is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the Kulmbach. It was first mentioned in 1135. The Plassenberg family were ministerial of the counts of Andechs (later the dukes of Andechs-Meranien) and used as their seat the Plassenburg. The House of Guttenberg, a prominent Franconian noble family, traces its origins back to 1149 with a Gundeloh v. Plassenberg. The name Guttenberg is derived from Guttenberg and was adopted by a Heinrich von Blassenberg around 1310. From 1340, the Hohenzollerns governed from Plassenburg castle their territories in Franconia till 1604. The Plassenburg was fortress and residence for the Hohenzollerns.

The castle was destroyed in 1554 at the end of the second Margravian war (1552–1554) of margrave Albert Alcibiades. The Plassenburg was later rebuilt by the architect Caspar Vischer as an impressive stronghold and as a huge palace. In 1792, Margrave Alexander sold the Plassenburg to his cousin, the King of Prussia. A combined Bavarian and French army under the command of Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, besieged the Plassenburg in 1806. In 1810, Kulmbach became Bavarian and the castle was used as a prison and as a military hospital. During the second world war, the Organisation Todt used the Plassenburg as a training camp and recreation home. Today, it is a museum and a venue for cultural events.

It contains a significant collection of Prussian military artifacts and portraits.

References:

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User Reviews

Sibylle Turner (18 months ago)
Only worth visiting if you want the view over Kulmbach. We have seen better. There is no parking at the castle. Roads are either one-way or lead nowhere if you follow Google Maps. Signage in town insufficient. You can do a self-guided tour to the first floor army museum and can see one room with an ancient bed plus the church. It cost about €4.50. A guided tour includes another floor. The walk on foot to the castle is 22° incline, very steep. Recommend to skip castle. There are better ones.

Lou Fegans (19 months ago)
Parking: free parking in the castle itself and along the right hand side of the turnaround. Attraction: worth a walk around the outside of the castle (20min) the museums inside are unimpressive. Cute town worth visiting but castle can be skipped

Astor Voltaires (22 months ago)
Really beautiful place. You can enter for free. The best was the view from the city. Recommended

Dermot (2 years ago)
Lovely castle, great views. Unfortunately tours in German only. .

Petkol (2 years ago)
Nice place. Interesting museum. Beautiful view

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