Rosenberg Fortress

Rosenberg Fortress rises steeply above the old town of Kronach in the Franconian Forest and in its long history was never taken by force. It is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Bavaria and shows within a compact area how military architecture evolved: from a medieval keep to Renaissance walls and Baroque bastions. Guided tours also take you into the underground passages.

History: stronghold of the Bamberg prince-bishops

The oldest document naming "Rosenberg" dates from 1249. Along with Forchheim it was one of the two state fortresses of the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg, who over the centuries developed it from a castle into a Renaissance palace and finally a modern fortress. Its position above the valleys of the Haßlach, Kronach and Rodach guarded important trade routes to Thuringia.

During the Thirty Years' War the townspeople and garrison beat off several attacks by the Swedes and their allies from 1632 to 1634; the women of Kronach are said to have fought with particular courage. An annual Swedish procession has commemorated this since 1633. The fortress was then modernised, with the architects Maximilian von Welsch and Balthasar Neumann working on the Baroque bastions. In 1888 the town of Kronach bought it for 32,000 marks, saving it from demolition.

In the First World War it held a camp for captured officers. From 20 July to 21 November 1917 the French captain Charles de Gaulle was imprisoned here. He made two escape attempts and was then moved to other camps.

What to see

• Inner castle: four wings around a courtyard, with a keep of about 38 m from the 13th century and a well some 45 m deep.
• Spitaltor: the oldest surviving gate to the inner castle, with its original wooden door.
• Fortress gate: the early Baroque main gate, probably by Antonio Petrini, richly decorated with coats of arms.
• Bastions: the Baroque outer ring forms a pentagon; on the south side the walls rise up to 25 m.
• Franconian Gallery: a branch of the Bavarian National Museum with Franconian art from the 13th to 16th centuries on about 1,000 m², including works by Tilman Riemenschneider, Veit Stoss and Kronach-born Lucas Cranach.

Opening hours and prices (as of October 2026)

• March to October: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30–17:00, fortress tours at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.
• November to February: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–14:00, tour at 12:30, museums and exhibitions closed.
• Prices March to October: fortress tour incl. Franconian Gallery and special exhibitions €11, pupils and students €6, families €23.
• Prices November to February: fortress tour €5, pupils and students €3. Children up to 6 free.

Getting there and tips

The fortress car park is directly below the complex; the car park at the outer moat behind the fortress offers step-free access. Kronach is easy to reach by train; the nearest ICE stop is Lichtenfels, about 25 km away. Allow 2 to 3 hours for a tour and the gallery. The best view of the fortress above the rooftops is from the old town directly below.