Burgruine Burgthann, Medieval castle ruin in Burgthann, Germany

Burgruine Burgthann is the ruin of a spur castle on a 420-metre sandstone ridge above the Schwarzach valley. Its 27-metre round bergfried, built in the 13th century from bossed ashlar with a square interior, stands within a ring wall of large sandstone blocks whose 12th-century outer section is the oldest part. The gate building was destroyed by lightning in 1897.

Built in the 12th century by the imperial ministeriales of Thann, the castle was first mentioned in 1160 with a knight of Thann on the Göckelsberg. In 1287 Heinrich von Thann sold it to Duke Louis II of Bavaria and received it back as a fief; it then passed via King Rudolf to Burgrave Frederick III of Nuremberg. From 1346 it housed a Hohenzollern Pflegamt. In 1460 it was destroyed in the Bavarian War and rebuilt in 1463; imperial troops wrecked the south-east wing in 1635, Swedish troops plundered it in 1648, and after the Pflegamt moved in 1792 it decayed and was used as a quarry.

The castle chapel, a timber-framed structure, was later built onto the outside of the ring wall. Since June 2010, civil weddings have taken place in the courtyard, with the first ceremony performed by mayor Heinz Meyer. In summer, the Fördergemeinschaft Burg Burgthann organizes a castle festival and a jazz festival on the grounds.

The castle is reachable by car via the A3 motorway at the Altdorf/Burgthann exit or through Bundesstraße 8. Access to the site is managed by a local heritage group, so it helps to check ahead about visiting conditions and any specific access requirements.

The 27-metre bergfried, built in the 13th century from bossed ashlar, has a square interior inside its round shell. A dragon relief sits above the entrance of the later Pflegamt building on the south side. Since June 2010 the inner courtyard has been used for civil wedding ceremonies.