Burgruine Hohenberneck

Burgruine Hohenberneck is a castle ruin in Bad Berneck im Fichtelgebirge situated on a hilltop with stone walls and structures offering views across the Bayreuth district landscape. The site contains multiple wall sections, traces of two former moats, and remains of defensive features distributed across the terrain.

The castle was constructed in 1478 by Veit von Wallenrode on the grounds of an earlier fortification called Walpotenburg. After changing hands multiple times, it became an administrative center for the region in the early 1500s.

The ruins display late Gothic features with defensive structures still visible across the site today. Visitors can observe how the layout and construction methods reflected practical needs for protection and control of the surrounding area.

The site is accessible via marked hiking trails from Bad Berneck with clear signage to guide visitors through the area. Best visited during daylight hours after recent restoration work completed in 2023 made the terrain safely navigable.

The site features an unusual entrance passage leading to the palas that demonstrates adaptation to the sloping terrain of the hilltop. This architectural solution is rarely seen among castle ruins and provides insight into medieval problem-solving for challenging locations.