Perched on a hill in Middle Franconia on the edge of the Steigerwald Nature Park, Schloss Frankenberg offers sweeping views. But how did almost a little Versailles end up here? Completely run down and practically empty — it even leaked through the roof — it was acquired in 2014 by Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Löw as part of the European Heritage Project. It was meticulously renovated, furnished with magnificent historical furniture, large paintings, and the most valuable tapestries. Löw is an international investor who mainly lives in Munich. The project mentioned, with Löw as chief curator, has made it its mission to acquire and preserve or restore historic buildings and castles not only in Germany, in order to safeguard them as cultural heritage.

The Castle Hotel

The castle offers a castle hotel with 27 suites and rooms, where guests can enjoy peace in a luxurious setting or even spend their wedding night. At the same time, the ballroom is suitable for dignified events, complemented by a modern conference room, which can be accessed through the meter-thick walls of the former fortress. The heart of the place is the receptionist and art historian Edith von Weitzel-Mudersbach, who also continues to research the history of the castle.

The Restaurant in the Manor House and the Michelin-Starred Restaurant Le Frankenberg

Guests can enjoy hearty Franconian cuisine at the restaurant in the Manor House with its beautiful terrace, lining the outer castle courtyard — both offering a splendid view over the vast Franconian landscape as well as the vineyards belonging to the castle, which sweep around the castle hill and the adjoining heights. The Michelin-starred chef and culinary director is Steffen Szabo, who is also responsible for the fine dining restaurant Le Frankenberg in the castle hotel.

Brief History

First mentioned in 1225 as “Castrum Frankenberg,” Burgrave Konrad I of Nuremberg from the House of Hohenzollern built the Vorderfrankenberg Castle there in 1254. In 1520, the Lords of Hutten acquired it and built Schloss Frankenberg. The castle and fortress were never destroyed. After changing owners and ultimately falling into almost complete decay, the castle was purchased in 2014 by Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Löw as part of the European Heritage Project. In 2024, the castle hotel opens and Le Frankenberg is awarded a Michelin star.

The Schloss Frankenberg Winery

Through Löw’s initiative, the winery has also come back to life, with 18 hectares of vines producing Silvaner, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and other varieties in the Schloss Frankenberg and Louisenberg vineyards. After an initial cooperation, the winery will be fully leased by Markus Meier starting in 2025.

The castle is located in the district of 97215 Weigenheim, and formally the operations are part of Schloss Frankenberg GmbH. https://schloss-frankenberg.de

Text: Dieter Simon; Photos: WWW_HEIDOM_DE; Photo of Ms. von Weitzel: bonvinitas