Burg Waldau, Medieval castle ruins in Vohenstrauß, Germany

Burg Waldau is a medieval hilltop castle on the 524-metre Schlossberg in Waldau, part of Vohenstrauß. Its bergfried was built in the early 13th century, the palas added around 1350, and the two were linked by an intermediate building in the 15th century. The castle stands on serpentinite rock, and its remains are recorded as a Bavarian archaeological monument.

The Waldau family built the bergfried in the early 13th century and added the palas around 1350, linking both with an intermediate building in the 15th century. In 1545 Jörg von Waldau sold the estate to Willibald von Wirsberg. From 1560 to 1562 the Köckritz family held the castle, and in 1681 Ferdinand Franz Leopold von Enckevort sold it to Franz Ferdinand von Rummel. In the 18th century the bergfried became the village church, serving until a new church was built in 1912.

The castle chapel was converted for church use in the 18th century, when the bergfried and adjoining buildings served as the village church. A new church was built in 1912, after which the castle was no longer used for worship. The site is now in private ownership and opens to visitors on certain days.

The site is privately owned with restricted access, so it is best to inquire in advance about visiting possibilities. From the surrounding area the ruins can be viewed from the edges of the rock formation, and sturdy footwear is advisable for the uneven terrain.

The castle sits on a 524-meter hill of serpentinite, a rock that contains bronzite. This hard rock ridge is exposed only in a few spots around the castle, and most outcrops are overgrown. The site is listed as a geotope for its geological value.