Greifenstein Castle

Greifenstein Castle stands majestically on a rock high above Heiligenstadt and the Leinleitertal valley, visible from afar. The castle, which was once in ruins, has been transformed into a Baroque palace that is still inhabited today, and visitors can view its famous collection of weapons.

📜 History

The name Greifenstein first appears in 1172. Around 1280, the Lords of Streitberg took possession of the castle, where they resided until 1690. During the Peasants’ War of 1525, the complex was destroyed and plundered. Sebastian Schenk von Stauffenberg purchased the ruins and converted them into a hunting lodge; towards the end of the 17th century, the palace was extended in the Baroque style under the Bamberg architect Leonhard Dientzenhofer.

Greifenstein remains in the possession of the Schenk von Stauffenberg family to this day. It was from this family that Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, the leader of the assassination attempt on Hitler on 20 July 1944, hailed – the current lord of the castle is his nephew.

⚔️ Armoury

The centrepiece of the tour is the collection of weapons housed in three vaulted chambers: ranging from medieval tournament armour and weapons from the Thirty Years’ War to hunting rifles. There are also Baroque rooms, Renaissance furniture and, in the corridors, numerous hunting trophies, including intricately carved stag antlers dating from 1690 to 1847.

🕒 Opening hours

Guided tours in the morning from 9.00 am to 11.15 am and in the afternoon from 1.30 pm to 4.45 pm (or by arrangement).

Practical information