Magnificent palaces and mighty castles are almost as common as sand on the beach in Bavaria. Not least, we can call ourselves home to the most famous palace in the world and have our very own Versailles. But among all these grand and well-known sites, there are also little gems that aren’t overrun by crowds of tourists. These possess at least as much charm and are brimming with fascinating history. One such place is the Rockenbrunn Hunting Lodge, where you can still dine in its inn today and celebrate lavish parties.
The small castle with the Brunnenhof
Rockenbrunn is a district of the town of Röthenbach an der Pegnitz and consists of just eight houses. Nevertheless, the small hamlet has a small castle in its center that belongs to the Fürer Castle in Haimendorf. The building is rectangular in layout and features a fountain in the inner courtyard. The Baroque fountain with its balustrade is reminiscent of the Sophienquelle near Grünsberg Castle. The water comes from the Rockenquelle, located in one of the three arcades on the east wall. From there, it flows through a channel into the fountain basin, where people used to wash their clothes. Hence the name Rockenbrunn.
The castle itself is a mixture of sandstone and half-timbered construction. Neither the background of Rockenbrunn’s construction nor its exact year of construction is truly clear. It is possible that there was once an open-air stage here, which the Fürer family converted into their castle in the 16th or 17th century. It has the character of a fortification, but was presumably not used as such. Rockenbrunn likely did not serve as a hunting lodge until the 18th century.
Festivities in Rockenbrunn
Rockenbrunn is still owned by the Fürer family today. The premises now house a restaurant where you can stop for a bite to eat during your visit. You are not permitted to enter the rooms on the upper floor of the building, but you can admire the courtyard with the well in person. The student tradition of Maibowle was likely brought to Rockenbrunn by students from the nearby university in Altdorf. A few old signs still point to this. In the courtyard, you can still enjoy the traditional punch on a Sunday in May.
In the summer, you celebrate the Rockenbrunn parish fair. On the second-to-last Sunday in August, the innkeeper sets up the Rockenmännle in the fountain. There are all kinds of delicacies to eat, and a band keeps the mood lively. You can celebrate both outdoors and in the tent and look forward to several days of festivities. You can also book the inn for private events. Or you could shoot your own movie here, since Rockenbrunn has already served as the backdrop for the Franconian “Tatort” crime series.
📍 Location: Rockenbrunn 1, 90552 Röthenbach an der Pegnitz
🕑 Hours: Mon, Tue & Thu–Sat 4 PM to midnight, Sun 11 AM to 4 PM
