Burg Betzenstein, Medieval castle in Betzenstein, Germany.
Burg Betzenstein is a medieval castle in Bavaria that rises from a hilltop and is surrounded by fortified walls and defensive towers. The structure displays gothic architectural features with an entrance area that reflects medieval construction techniques.
Burg Betzenstein was probably built around 1187 as the seat of ministerialis Friedrich von Betzenstein and was first documented on 11 August 1311, when Bishop Wulfing von Stubenberg of Bamberg enfeoffed Konrad von Schlüsselberg. In 1327 Landgrave Ulrich gave his share to the Bohemian crown, and by 1359 the Leuchtenberg landgraves held the whole complex. It was destroyed in the Bavarian War of 1420–22, rebuilt in 1550 and burned down on 20 May 1553 in the Second Margrave War; rebuilding continued from 1555 into the 18th century.
The name Betzenstein is linked to the ministerialis Friedrich von Betzenstein, associated with the castle around 1187. The complex is recorded as two separate heritage monuments, the north part D-4-72-118-9 and the south part D-4-72-118-8, and as the Bodendenkmal D-4-6334-0061. The castle is privately inhabited and cannot be entered, so the halves are seen from outside.
The castle is privately inhabited and cannot be visited; there are no guided tours. The complex stands on the 512-metre Schlossberg above Betzenstein, at Burgweg 7–9. The two halves of the former double castle are protected monuments, so the site can only be viewed from the outside.
The castle is privately inhabited and cannot be visited; the grounds are closed to the public. What survives is a half-ruin listed by the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection as two separate monuments, D-4-72-118-9 for the northern part and D-4-72-118-8 for the southern part of the former double castle.
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