Petzenschloss, Medieval castle in Lichtenhof, Germany

Petzenschloss is a castle in Lichtenhof, Nuremberg, featuring a rectangular sandstone main building with four corner towers topped by pyramid roofs and a central saddle roof. The structure is surrounded by several timber-framed outbuildings that together create a complete estate complex.

Swinko Has built a Weiherhaus here in the 14th century and held it as an imperial fief from 1358. The Pfinzing family acquired it in 1377, and after destruction by Nuremberg in 1471 it passed to the Waldstromer in 1428. Merchant Valentin Schönborn rebuilt it as a castle in 1578; in 1582 Pius Petz acquired it through his marriage to Marie Schönborn, giving it the name Petzenschloss.

The building displays the traditional Nuremberg Weiherhaus style with its substantial sandstone main structure surrounded by timber-framed outbuildings arranged around a courtyard. This architectural approach shaped how prosperous merchant families in the region designed their homes and estates.

The castle is located at Wirthstrasse 76 in Nuremberg near the Gustav Adolf Church in a residential neighborhood. Public transportation connects to the area, making it accessible for visitors exploring the local architecture.

During the Thirty Years War in 1632, the castle served as the military headquarters of Swedish King Gustav Adolf as he defended against imperial forces. Traces of this military episode remain visible in damage to the structure.