Journey through time

The pride and joy of any castle, the drawbridge, is back in working order at Wernberg Castle.
It required a special attention to detail and the ability to dream to awaken the ruins from their slumber. Skilful master craftsmen and hundreds of hard-working people worked with tradition and care to renew each part, stone by stone, preserve wood-beamed ceilings dating from the 15th century and ensure that the entire castle was once again resplendent with its old gloss. It is impossible to describe all of this; you have to experience it for yourself.

Our guests have breathed new life back into Wernberg Castle. It is only thanks to them that such a bold leap in time can not only succeed but can make sense too.

13th century
1280	Wernberg Castle is mentioned in a document for the first time. Konrad von Paulsdorf acquires the castle from two noblemen from the Leuchtenberg dynasty.
1281	Ownership of the castle is transferred to the age-old and swashbuckling Nothaft family. One branch of this noble family later names itself after the town of Wernberg.
1284	For a short period of time, Burgrave Friedrich von Nürnberg is the proud owner of the castle, but it soon falls back into the hands of the Nothafts.

14th century
1367	A landmark date in the history of the castle is 9 March 1367. This was the date on which Heinrich Nothaft von Wernberg received his free castle from the crown of Bohemia as a man’s fief. Emperor Karl IV takes Wernberg into his guard and protection as a Bohemian fief.
1381	On 29 November, Hans Nothaft and his wife Beatrix sell half of the castle to their nephews: Heinrich, Albert and Hans Nothaft.

15th century
1401	Heinrich Nothaft - now also referred to as Heinrich the Wealthy - constructs a chapel in the castle which is consecrated as St. George’s Chapel.
1407	Heinrich Nothaft von Wernberg (judge in Nabburg 1397-1434) is appointed to the capital punishment court with stocks and gallows on 23 August by King Rupprecht.
1430	Hussite incursions in the Upper Palatinate region which are thoroughly defeated three years later with the assistance of the Nothafts.

16th century
1509	Death of Heinrich III Nothaft. On 28 December, the castle is sold to Georg Wiespeck zu Velburg, hereditary master chamberlain of his trade.
1530	His son Hans Adam sells the castle on: to Landgrave Johann IV von Leuchtenberg.
1560	Landgrave Ludwig Heinrich provides Wernberg Castle with a coat of arms seal.

17th century
1646	On 1 November, Max Adam dies as the last landgrave of Leuchtenberg. Bohemia seizes Wernberg as a fiefdom and hands over control to Count Khevenhüller. He sells the repaired castle to the electoral prince Maximilian of Bavaria.
1650	Maximilian of Bavaria hands over Wernberg Castle together with Leuchtenberg to his son Max Philipp. After his death, the intention is that Wernberg should revert back to Bavaria, but the emperor seizes it and gives it to Count Leopold of Lamberg.

18th century
1714	The castle is now returned to Bavaria and is established as the Upper Palatinate electoral office, which with Luhe comprises an area of around 25 km2 and approx. 2000 inhabitants. The electoral judge and administrator Wolf Clement Peter zu Fernau auf Offenstetten moves into the castle.
1741	During the War of the Austrian Succession up until 1745, Wernberg Castle is used as a troop base.

19th century
1803	The electoral office is disbanded and combined with Nabburg district court. The castle is turned into a penal institution, which is not good for it because it falls into disrepair.
1871	Following a government request, the Upper Palatinate Historic Association decides to preserve Wernberg Castle. However, the government is hesitant in providing financial support.
1873	On 28 April, the Bavarian Ministry of Finance sells the castle for 1000 guilders to Captain von Peritzhoff. He is told to preserve the parts of the building which are worthy of preservation.
1891	On 20 October, his widow Amanda von Peritzhoff takes over control of Wernberg Castle.
1892	On 21 November, Amanda von Peritzhoff sells the castle to the private individual Hans Zapf from Murnau.
1893	August Boshart, a major from Brussels, buys the castle and is unable to keep hold of it for financial reasons - a compulsory auction follows.
1894	Retired major and landowner Otto Freiherr von Brencken is the new owner. After his death in 1915, the castle remains in the hands of his widow and their three daughters.

20th & 21st century
1920	Count Schall-Riaucour acquires the castle, rebuilds the east section and restores the buildings.
1992	Wernberg Castle is acquired by the market town of Wernberg and together with the company Conrad Electronic it is developed into a hotel with a restaurant. The Conrad family leases the castle for 99 years.
1998	The day has come: the castle opens. After six years of planning, reconstruction and restoration, it makes it into the top 100 of the finest hotels in Germany in its very first year.
1999	The quest for stars is a successful one: the first Michelin star is awarded to the “Kastell” gourmet restaurant at Wernberg Castle.
2000	Wernberg Castle Hotel is incorporated on 1 January into the portfolio of Relais & Chateaux - the world’s finest hotel consortium.
2001	Christian Jürgens becomes the new chef de cuisine at Wernberg Castle and is awarded the Michelin star in his very first year
2002	The efforts of Christian Jürgens and his team are rewarded with the 2nd Michelin star
2005	Ralf O. Leidner becomes the new manager of Wernberg Castle
2006	The Ideas building and its team of staff are presented with the Relais & Châteaux Corporate Retreat Trophy as the first conference hotel within the cooperation anywhere in the world.
2007	Frank Hildebrand becomes the new sommelier in the Kastell gourmet restaurant
2008	Thomas Kellermann takes charge of overall responsibility for cuisine at Wernberg Castle as the new chef de cuisine