Wenzelschloß — Attraction in Lauf an der Pegnitz

Lauf Castle (German: Wenzelschloss or Burg Lauf; Czech: hrad Lauf) was originally a medieval fortress in the town of Lauf an der Pegnitz near Nuremberg, Germany. The German name Wenzelschloss ("Saint Wenceslas' Chateau") is derived from to the present day surviving statue of Saint Wenceslas, patron saint of Czechs, on the facade of the entrance gate. The castle was built by the Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor in 1356, on the way between Prague and Nuremberg on the ruins of an older castle. The dominant feature of the castle is the hall of arms; in 1934, under a layer of old paint were discovered 112 coats of arms of noblemen of the Crown of Bohemia. It is the most precious collection of Bohemian, Moravian and Silesian secular and ecclesiastical heraldry.[1]

Lauf laid in an area called the Bohemian Palatinate, which was once part of the Bohemian crown lands. In 1373 Emperor Charles IV ceded the castle along with parts of the Bohemian Palatinate to Otto V, Duke of Bavaria in exchange for the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Charles' son Wenceslaus IV lost the rest of the...

I visited the Wenzelburg in Lauf an der Pegnitz this past fall and I was blown away by its beauty and history. The Wenzelburg is a medieval castle that was built in the 13th century and served as a residence for the counts of Pegnitz. It is located on an island on the river Pegnitz, and offers a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. The castle is well preserved and has a museum that displays various artifacts and exhibits related to its history and culture. I learned a lot about the life and times of the people who lived there, and I was fascinated by the stories of battles, sieges, and legends that are associated with the castle. The Wenzelburg is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in medieval history and architecture, or if you just want to enjoy a scenic walk in nature. I give it five stars and...

Situated on a small island in the Pegnitz River in Lauf an der Pegnitz, Wenzelschloss—also known as Lauf Castle or Wenzelburg—was constructed by Emperor Charles IV between 1356 and 1360 on the site of an earlier fortress.

The castle was strategically located on the Golden Road, the important medieval trade and travel route from Prague to Nuremberg, serving as Charles IV’s last stop in “New Bohemia” before entering Nuremberg.

Named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia, the German term Wenzelschloss reflects Charles IV’s Bohemian heritage.

Ancillary buildings and the bridge have medieval roots, and the castle was a regional seat of power after coming under Bavarian and then...