The Rothenberg Fortress was built around 1750 on an older and smaller castle from the 13th century. It is located on the Rothenberg of the same name, above the Schnaittach market. The baroque fortress was built as a bastion based on the French model and was the last Rococo fortress in Europe. In 1806, when Franconia was annexed to Bavaria, the strategic importance was gone and the fortress became a dreaded prison. Due to cost reasons, it was closed around 1840 on the instructions of the Bavarian King Ludwig I.