Turmburg Alt-Berneck, building in Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Germany
Turmburg Alt-Berneck is an archaeological site of an early castle in Bad Berneck, Bavaria, with the remains of a round stone tower and fortifications from the 11th century. The tower measured about 11 meters (36 feet) across, had thick walls made from broken diabase stones, and featured windows and door frames of decorated sandstone, surrounded by earth walls, ditches, and likely wooden palisades.
The castle was built by the noble Walpot family in the early 1000s and served as a fortified residence and control point for the surrounding region. By the middle of the 12th century, the site was abandoned and replaced by the new castle Walpotenburg, after which the old location fell into ruin and remained unoccupied.
The name Alt-Berneck means 'Old Berneck' and refers to the site's role in the area's earliest settlement. The ruins show how early noble families displayed their power through stone construction, which was rare at the time since most castles were built from wood.
The ruins are easily reached on foot from Bad Berneck's Kurpark: follow the path east for about 20 minutes, cross a small bridge over the Ölschnitz River, then take the narrow trail up the hill. The site sits on a ridge with steep drops on three sides, so wear sturdy shoes and take care when the ground is wet or muddy.
What sets this site apart is the rare use of stone in early castle architecture - while most castles of that time were built from wood, Alt-Berneck used durable stone walls. The round shape of the tower and traces of decorated sandstone work suggest unusually sophisticated construction for the early 11th century.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
