The best walks and hikes around Guteneck

Guteneck Castle The castle was built in the 12th century, as evidenced by its Gothic walls. Guteneck was also first documented at this time. In 1278, Guteneck Castle came into the possession of the von und zu Murach family. A Jordan von Murach is first officially recorded in 1299. Wolff Albrecht von Murach sold Guteneck Castle to the Barons von Kreith in 1576. The Barons von Kreith were elevated to the rank of Imperial Counts in the 17th century and, like their predecessors, retained control of Guteneck for 300 years. During the Thirty Years' War, Guteneck and Weidenthal were devastated by soldiers. The castle burned down completely in 1822 during a village fire. Initially, only the chapel and the adjoining castle building were rebuilt. The last Imperial Countess, Franziska von Kreith (being childless), sold Guteneck Castle and its estate to her brother, Count Franz von Spreti, in 1894. That same year, he built a residential wing on medieval foundations, incorporating remnants of Baroque walls. In 1923, Count Spreti sold the property to a real estate agent from Nuremberg, who in turn sold it to Hereditary Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1937. In 1961, Count Albrecht Beissel von Gymnich acquired Guteneck Castle from the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and gave the estate its current appearance. Count Burkhard Beissel von Gymnich inherited the property from his father, Albrecht, in 2001. The building is a three- to four-sided structure. Parts of the castle were added later, including an arcaded courtyard in the 19th century. The castle chapel of St. Catherine dates from the 14th to 15th centuries and was rebuilt with alterations at the beginning of the 19th century. It features a roof turret with an onion dome. A so-called Swiss chalet with ground-floor vaulted ceilings and a former schoolhouse also belong to the complex. The castle has been revitalized through a variety of measures. Parts of it are offered as holiday apartments, a medieval banquet is regularly held there, a traditional Christmas market has been held for several years, the castle serves as a wedding venue, and the Highland Games and other celebrations take place there annually. In addition, the castle is used as a conference and seminar center. Source: Excerpts from www.wikipedia.de / www.schloss-guteneck.de/

Guteneck Castle The castle was built in the 12th century, as evidenced by its Gothic walls. Guteneck was also first documented at this time. In 1278, Guteneck Castle came into the possession of the von und zu Murach family. A Jordan von Murach is first officially recorded in 1299. Wolff Albrecht von Murach sold Guteneck Castle to the Barons von Kreith in 1576. The Barons von Kreith were elevated to the rank of Imperial Counts in the 17th century and, like their predecessors, retained control of Guteneck for 300 years. During the Thirty Years' War, Guteneck and Weidenthal were devastated by soldiers. The castle burned down completely in 1822 during a village fire. Initially, only the chapel and the adjoining castle building were rebuilt. The last Imperial Countess, Franziska von Kreith (being childless), sold Guteneck Castle and its estate to her brother, Count Franz von Spreti, in 1894. That same year, he built a residential wing on medieval foundations, incorporating remnants of Baroque walls. In 1923, Count Spreti sold the property to a real estate agent from Nuremberg, who in turn sold it to Hereditary Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1937. In 1961, Count Albrecht Beissel von Gymnich acquired Guteneck Castle from the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and gave the estate its current appearance. Count Burkhard Beissel von Gymnich inherited the property from his father, Albrecht, in 2001. The building is a three- to four-sided structure. Parts of the castle were added later, including an arcaded courtyard in the 19th century. The castle chapel of St. Catherine dates from the 14th to 15th centuries and was rebuilt with alterations at the beginning of the 19th century. It features a roof turret with an onion dome. A so-called Swiss chalet with ground-floor vaulted ceilings and a former schoolhouse also belong to the complex. The castle has been revitalized through a variety of measures. Parts of it are offered as holiday apartments, a medieval banquet is regularly held there, a traditional Christmas market has been held for several years, the castle serves as a wedding venue, and the Highland Games and other celebrations take place there annually. In addition, the castle is used as a conference and seminar center. Source: Excerpts from www.wikipedia.de / www.schloss-guteneck.de/

The large bear sculpture at Guteneck is reportedly the world's largest bear carved from a single tree trunk using chainsaws. It stands on the grounds of Guteneck Castle in the Schwandorf district and was carved from a poplar tree in May 2017. Height & Weight: The giant sculpture towers nearly 10 meters (approx. 9.94 m) in height. The 13-ton artwork was carved by Joachim Pochert and his team. The sculpture is a popular photo subject and is decorated for different seasons, such as the Christmas market.

Time for a summit schnapps

Beautifully preserved privately owned castle

The beautiful Christmas market at Guteneck Castle is particularly recommended. It is open on all four Advent weekends from Thursday to Sunday and recently even the weekend before as a "pre-opening" (except on Remembrance Sunday). The atmosphere is unique and the food selection is very varied. Despite the expensive entrance fee (between €8 and €10), it is really highly recommended.

Beer garden with snack bar at Guteneck Castle

Crisp ascent to the summit cross.