Freienfels Castle

The castle, which was founded by the lords of Aufseß, still stands prominently above Freienfels. It is protected from the valley by steep cliffs and from the mountainside by two ditches.
In the 13th century the mighty castle Freienfels was built by the knight Otto von Aufseß and first mentioned in 1388. This castle took a special position among the knight seats of Wiesenttal. She stood on free land, on a "free rock" and was subordinate only to the emperor and the empire.
1490 was the village of Freienfels at the behest of the lords.
In 1525 rebellious peasants destroyed the castle in the Peasants' War and burned it down. After the riots Ritter Pankraz of Aufseß rebuilt the castle.
In the Thirty Years' War, Freienfels was alternately occupied by the Swedes and the Bambergs. The occupation of the castle in the name of the bishop by the Hollfelder Vogt lasted until 1649. The family von Aufseß sold desert stone and could therefore trigger 1681 with this sales sum Freienfels from the diocese of Bamberg. However, it was sold in 1690 to the Canon of Bamberg and Würzburg, Carl Siegmund, Freiherr von Aufseß. In 1690 he decided to demolish the castle, which had fallen into disrepair, and had a castle built on the foundation walls between 1693 and 1701.
Between 1867 and 1887, the castle was sold several times and acquired in 1887 by the wife Ernestine of Hermann Freiherr von Aufseß. Thus Schloss Freienfels returns to family ownership. However, it was resold in 1918. Again several changes of ownership took place and in 1941 it was sold to the asset management of the German Labor Front Berlin. After the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany and the distribution of the imperial property, the state of Bavaria became the legal successor of the state estates in Bavarian lands and thus in 1949 owner of the castle Freienfels and was privately owned.
Every Saturday at 2 pm, the lords of the castle offer a guided tour. Additionally also by appointment.
The information comes partly from the website of the city Hollfeld: hollfeld.de

By the picture series you get a very good impression, thank you Söhni!

Certainly an impressive castle, but privately owned. Guided tours are possible by prior arrangement. If you pass by, you are facing a closed gate. Still nice to look at from the outside 😉