Altes Schloss (Affalterthal)

Altes Schloss
Egloffstein-Affalterthal-"Altschlossberg"
View of the burgstall from the east (November 2013)
Altes Schloss
Coordinates	49°42′39″N 11°16′00″E / 49.710927°N 11.266804°E / 49.710927; 11.266804Coordinates: 49°42′39″N 11°16′00″E / 49.710927°N 11.266804°E / 49.710927; 11.266804
Type	Hill castle on a spur
Code	DE-BY
Height	458.9 m above sea level (NN)
Site information
Condition	burgstall (no above-ground ruins)
Site history
Built	Probably High Middle Ages
Materials	Quadermauerwerk
Garrison information
Occupants	Unknown

The burgstall of the Altes Schloss ("Old Castle" or "Old Palace") is the site of an old castle near the village of Affalterthal in Bavaria, that was probably built in the High Middle Ages for the nobility. It lies within the municipality of Egloffstein in the Upper Franconian county of Forchheim.

The site of the former spur castle is freely accessible.

The small, former hill castle site is located in the Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park, about 850 metres west-northwest of the church in Affalterthal at a height of 458.9 m above sea level (NN) on the summit of the Altschlossberg, about 15 kilometres east of Forchheim.

Very close by stands Egloffstein Castle and the ruins of Thuisbrunn and Schlossberg castles. To the northwest near Oberzaunsbach is another burgstall, also named the Altes Schloss. To the north near the village of Äpfelbach are the remains of a large pre- and early historical fortification on the Heidelberg.

Nothing is known of the history of the little castle. According to the Nuremberg castle researcher, Hellmut Kunstmann, the lords of Egloffstein, who were influential in this area, could have built it. Another possibility is that Otto of Affaltert, who is mentioned in 1133, might have occupied the castle. However, he is a witness to a document between Upper Palatine ministeriales, so he could also have come from the region of Upper Palatinate and would not be the castle lord.