Schloss Hirschbrunn is a castle in

Auhausen Auhausen is a municipality in the Swabian district Donau-Ries in Bavaria in Germany. The municipality is within the Oettingen central administrative body. Auhausen was the site of the 1608 meeting that formed the Protestant Union The Protest ...

, Bavaria. The castle is a private residence and is owned by the

House of Oettingen-Spielberg The House of Oettingen was a high-ranking noble Franconian and Swabian family. It ruled various estates that composed the County of Oettingen between the 12th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In 1674 the house was raised to the rank ...

History

Schloss Hirschbrunn started as a hunting lodge for members of the

House of Oettingen The House of Oettingen was a high-ranking noble Franconian and Swabian family. It ruled various estates that composed the County of Oettingen between the 12th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In 1674 the house was raised to the rank ...

. Construction began around 1600. The castle was built by Peter and Hans Alberthal and was made for Count Gottfried of

Oettingen-Oettingen The House of Oettingen was a high-ranking noble Franconian and Swabian family. It ruled various estates that composed the County of Oettingen between the 12th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In 1674 the house was raised to the rank ...

and Wilhelm II, Count of

Oettingen-Wallerstein The House of Oettingen was a high-ranking noble Franconian and Swabian family. It ruled various estates that composed the County of Oettingen between the 12th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In 1674 the house was raised to the rank ...

. The castle was reportedly looted in 1634 after the Battle of Nördlingen. Albert Ernest II, Prince of Oettingen-Oettingen sold the castle to Count Franz Albrecht of Oettingen-Spielberg in the late 17th century. Franz Albrecht had the castle expanded in 1692 and built a Catholic chapel. The castle served as a school from 1700 to 1846. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

it was used as a warehouse. It was renovated in 1978 and again in 1992. It is now owned by the House of Oettingen-Spielberg and is not open to the public.

References

Buildings and structures in Donau-Ries Castles in Bavaria House of Oettingen Palaces in Bavaria Royal residences in Bavaria {{Bavaria-castle-stub