Schloss Unterleiterbach, château

Schloss Unterleiterbach is a two-story castle in Zapfendorf with a rectangular shape, nine window sections across its facade, and white plastered walls with sandstone accents. The building was constructed from 1737 to 1739 by architect Justus Heinrich Dientzenhofer in Rococo style and features a central gabled projection with a broad staircase leading to the entrance.

The castle was built from 1737 to 1739 by Countess Susanne Elisabeth von Brockdorff as a wedding gift for her daughter Susanna Sophia Amalia. After passing through various owners, including a period under Henry Sturz from Zweibrücken, the building has been owned by the Heiss family since 1956.

The building's name is tied to the Brockdorff family: Countess Susanne Elisabeth von Brockdorff had it built from 1737 to 1739 as a dowry for her daughter Susanna Sophia Amalia, who shared it with her brother Lorenz Ernst Friedrich. In 1852 the widow of the ennobled Henry Sturz sold it to a consortium of twelve Unterleiterbach residents.

Schloss Unterleiterbach stands in Unterleiterbach, a district of Zapfendorf in Upper Franconia; the building is in private hands and has housed an antique trade since 1976, with hotel rooms also available. Visitors reach it by car or public transport, with parking nearby, and should keep to the exterior and respect the owners' privacy.

The castle was originally built as a wedding gift and today houses a small hotel and antique shop, making it an unusual use for a historic building. This combination allows visitors to stay overnight in a Rococo castle while exploring old collectibles.