Museum Schloss Ortenburg

About the museum

Ortenburg Castle was for centuries the seat of the Imperial Counts of Ortenburg. The hilltop castle above the Wolfach valley was built around 1120. After destruction in the 12th and 16th centuries, Count Joachim had it rebuilt in the Renaissance style from 1562. From this period date the Knights' Hall with its painted coffered ceiling and the castle chapel, whose wooden ceiling from 1628 is considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance ceilings in Germany.

In 1805 the county passed to Bavaria. In 1827 the count's family regained the castle but no longer lived in it. After its sale in 1971 the complex was renovated with a great deal of private effort and opened to visitors; the castle museum was established in 1976. An extensive restoration of the chapel ceiling followed in 2008.

Since 2019 the castle has belonged to the market municipality of Ortenburg. The municipality secures public access, has had an elevator and new toilets installed, among other things, and continues to run the castle with its museum, restaurant and events.

Highlights

• Former ancestral seat of the Counts of Ortenburg
• Renaissance castle from the 16th century
• Chapel with wooden coffered ceiling from 1628
• Knights' Hall with heraldic ceiling
• Schlosskeller restaurant in the vaulted cellars

Permanent exhibition

• Schlossmuseum Ortenburg – Museum rooms on the history of the castle and the county of Ortenburg.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Markt Ortenburg

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The count's reception room is barrier-free, the castle chapel is only partly accessible, and the Knights' Hall is not accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Restaurant Schlosskeller in the castle's vaulted cellars (tel. 08542 532970).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 140 guests.

Civil weddings in the count's reception room, the Knights' Hall or the castle chapel (up to 140 people); rental fee €350 with no additional fees. Events are booked through the castle administration.

Plan your visit