What secrets does Pfinzingschloss hold? Standing before this remarkable building you are transported to another time. This is Pfinzingschloss also known as Mornek Castle. It has a rich history stretching back centuries. Originally owned by Nuremberg patricians it later became the Hermann Oberth Space Museum.
The story of Pfinzingschloss is one of changing hands and dramatic events. In 1469 Ludwig Pfinzing sold his Feucht estates to Nuremberg. The city council then sold the manor to Dr Sebald Muller. The War of the Succession of Landshut in 1504 brought devastation. Pfinzingschloss was reduced to ruins. It was rebuilt though not without further destruction.
The Second Margrave War in 1552 saw another fire. Georg Tetzel a Nuremberg patrician bought the ruins. He reconstructed Pfinzingschloss. A coat of arms with the date 1568 marks his accomplishment. His new castle included a large cobbled hall a dairy and a fruit vault. Upstairs were parlors chambers and a kitchen.
Ownership of Pfinzingschloss changed many times. The Thirty Years War brought further hardship. The imperial city of Nuremberg reacquired the castle. Councilor Dr Christoph Gottlieb Scheurl von Defersdorf demolished two towers. The name Mornek Castle emerged. There are two stories about the origin of this name. One links it to Georg Tetzel the other to a Bohemian merchant Morne.
The Scheurl family held Pfinzingschloss until 1823. It passed through various owners before the Nuremberg stucco business Otto Schier acquired it. Hermann Oberth a space pioneer bought Pfinzingschloss in 1943. He established a space museum there. In 1988 Feucht a market town bought the castle. They renovated it preserving this piece of history for future generations. The Hermann Oberth Space Museum now occupies an outbuilding. Today Pfinzingschloss stands as a testament to its resilient past. It is a fascinating blend of history and modern innovation. It is a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the wonders of space exploration. This is Pfinzingschloss a true treasure.