Photos courtesy of Schloss Sommersdorf
Sommersdorf takes its name from the noble Sunnemannesdorf family who settled in the area in the 13th century.
Ludwig von Eyb built the castle in the 14th century. A noteworthy family member is his grandson, Albrecht von Eyb, who was born at the castle and later became Germany’s first humanistic writer.
In 1550 the von Crailsheim family took possession of the castle. A year later, Wolf von Crailsheim introduced Protestantism to Sommersdorf. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) brought plundering, burning, and looting to the town, but the castle remained relatively unscathed.
By the middle of the 19th century, renovations on the castle began, replacing the drawbridge by a stone one, as well as constructing a new top floor of the castle.
For the last 100 years, the von Crailsheim family have lived at Schloss Sommersdorf.
Pamela’s Perspective
If you’re looking for a self-catering apartment (or even just a room) in the Bavarian countryside to use as a base while exploring the Romantic Road and the Castle Road, Schloss Sommersdorf is the perfect choice. The newly renovated apartments in the “Bohemian House,” (which was built around 1750) are wonderfully furnished with occasional antique pieces and modern kitchens; they are the nicest in the castle.
Schloss Sommersdorf
A 14th-century castle
Contact
D-91595 Sommersdorf
Tel: ++49 (0) 9805 91920
Hotel website
Fast facts
3 rooms; 3 apartments; 3 apartments in the “Bohemian House”
Doubles: 100–160 euros
Rates do not include breakfast,
which can be provided on
request.
Minimum stays of 3 nights, but 6 nights are preferred.
Open: all year
Getting there
Sommersdorf can be a little tricky to find. From the A6 (Heilbronn-Nurenberg), exit at Ansbach and drive south on the B13. Follow the signs to Wassertrudingern and in about 8 km watch for the castle on the right hand side.
What to do
On site: swimming; bicycle
rentals
Nearby: the Romantic Road;
the Castle Road; water sports;
horseback riding; golf; tennis
This Bavarian castle boasts everything a castle lover could desire: moat, turrets, towers, spiral staircases, and a stone bridge.
Schloss Sommersdorf is not your typical German castle hotel. In fact, it’s not really a hotel but a private home that offers a few regular guest rooms and six self-catering apartments.
Everything you need to call your castle home is provided, and a grocery store is only five minutes away. If you don’t wish to cook, a number of restaurants are in the neighborhood.
Something special
The welcoming personality of proprietor Baron Dr. Manfred von Crailsheim