Burg Veldenstein, Medieval castle in Neuhaus an der Pegnitz, Germany

Burg Veldenstein is a hilltop castle above Neuhaus an der Pegnitz, built of pale grey stone among wooded hills. Its centre is a large hall with a steep red roof and a row of arched windows; a slender tower with a dark onion dome stands to the left, and a tall square tower with a red pyramid roof to the right. Long red-tiled walls link the buildings across the slope, enclosing courtyards.

The fortress appeared in written records in 1269 and functioned as an administrative hub for the Bishopric of Bamberg for many years. Over centuries, it evolved from a pure defensive stronghold into a residential castle with broader purposes.

Since 2002 the castle grounds have hosted the annual Veldensteiner Festival, when music bands play over a weekend and a medieval market is held at the same time. The name Veldenstein is first recorded in 1323, replacing the earlier Latin novum castrum.

The castle is closed and empty: the Kaiser Bräu lease expired on 31 December 2012, the hotel and flats were cleared, and it is not open to visitors. In May 2013, 300 tonnes of rock and parts of the rampart collapsed and damaged a house in the valley below, and 16 residents were evacuated. The site stands above Neuhaus an der Pegnitz at the southern edge of the Veldensteiner Forst, about 50 km northeast of Nuremberg.

The castle has been closed and empty since the Kaiser Bräu lease expired on 31 December 2012, when the hotel and flats were cleared. In May 2013, 300 tonnes of rock and parts of the rampart slid down and damaged a house in the valley, and 16 residents were evacuated.