Schloss Irlbach, Castle in Irlbach, Germany

Schloss Irlbach is a three-story castle featuring a central courtyard, several towers including a distinctive polygonal library tower, and connected residential wings. The grounds extend to include an English-style park, service courtyard, and auxiliary buildings.

The castle dates back to 1569, when a fortified, castle-like building with a corner tower and a crenellated wall stood here; its gate tower and stair tower are still Gothic in core. In 1811 Franz Gabriel Graf Bray bought the former knight's fief, and in 1814 he obtained a seigneurial court, replaced in 1820 by a patrimonial court of the second class that lasted until 1848. Through marriage the estate passed to the Freiherren Poschinger-Bray, who still own it.

The castle chapel displays Gothic Revival Biedermeier architecture, while the inner courtyard holds a neo-Gothic fountain. The English-style park was laid out in the first half of the 19th century, when the polygonal library tower was also added at the northeast corner.

The castle is located at Graf-von-Bray-Straße 12, and the surrounding park and auxiliary buildings are easy to view from outside. Access to different parts of the property may vary, so it helps to check conditions before planning a detailed visit.

The core of the gate tower and the stair tower is still Gothic, while the east wing was raised after 1818 and the stair tower regothicised. The polygonal library tower at the northeast corner was added in the first half of the 19th century, when the English-style park was also laid out.