Karlstein Castle
This is where the medieval Karlstein Castle originally stood, which was completely built over by today's castle. The remains of a previous building from the 16th century can still be seen in the enclosing walls.
First mentioned in 1316 as "Chadoltstain" castle. The first lords of Karlstein were the Hofer von Lobenstein. They also came into possession of the castles of Stadel and Drackenstein, which were later combined into one Hofmark. Other named owners are 1363 Hartlieb der Buchperger and 1375 Konrad Murer. 1381 as a pledge to Landgrave Johann von Leuchtenberg, 1457 to Hans Deuerlinger. In 1766 Jakob Heinrich von Schneid became lord of the castle on Karlstein. In 1808 the castle came into the possession of the Counts of Drechsel-Deufstetten from Dinkelsbühl.
In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was plundered by the Swedish general Craz.
After 1900 the castle was expanded and rebuilt, giving it its current form. The neo-Gothic style building is located in a park and has four wings. The St. Ulrich castle chapel is located in the south wing. In the chapel lie the tombs of two former residents of the castle, Messrs. Teuffel von Pirkensee and Hornbeck.
The castle is still privately owned by the Counts von Drechsel; it can therefore only be viewed from the outside.
Source: Excerpts from Wikipedia and burgenseite.de