Herzogsschloss, Medieval ducal castle in Straubing, Germany

Herzogsschloss is a castle complex on the Danube in Straubing, built from 1356 for Duke Albrecht I. Its Palas consists of a large hall between two massive residential towers, with the Rittersaal on the upper floor of the long wing opposite. The complex also includes the Schlosskapelle St. Sigismund and St. Georg, a gate tower taken from the town wall, and a two-level courtyard linked by the Reitertreppe.

Duke Albrecht I founded the castle in 1356 as the residence of the Wittelsbach duchy of Bavaria-Straubing-Holland. Its role as a ducal seat ended in 1425 when the political territory was reorganized.

The courtyard hosts the Agnes Bernauer Festival every four years; the plays staged there take up the story of Agnes Bernauer, the Augsburg barber's daughter whose fate is tied to Straubing. The small Agnes-Bernauer-Turm at the northwest corner of the complex is named after her, although it was built about a century after her death and served defensive purposes, not as her prison.

The castle serves as an active municipal building with offices and a library, so parts remain in administrative use during business hours. It is worth checking local opening times before visiting to confirm which areas are open to the public.

The Rittersaal, built under Johann III after Dutch models, was later divided by inserted ceilings and turned into a barracks hall; the original ceiling was uncovered again during the 1990s renovation. The roughly 400 m² hall now hosts concerts and exhibitions.