Burg Hof am Regen

Burg Hof am Regen is situated in the village of Hof am Regen within the municipality of Nittenau, Germany. It was established by members of the medieval German nobility and served as a fortified residence and administrative center within the Bavarian region.

The earliest records of the site date back to around 1150, when the noble family von Hof first appeared as ministeriales—unfree knights or officials—under the ruling Wittelsbach dynasty. This family held local political influence during the 12th and 13th centuries and exercised lower judicial authority through the Hofmark system, a territorial jurisdiction granting limited court rights. During this period, Burg Hof am Regen functioned not only as a noble residence but also as a seat of governance within the local feudal order.

In 1340, a family dispute led to the splitting of the von Hof lineage into two main branches. One branch continued to reside at Hof am Regen, while the other established itself at Burg Lobenstein. Two prominent family members, Otto and Dietrich von Hof, served as vassals to the Palatinate princes and retreated to Lobenstein during this division. The von Hof presence at Burg Hof am Regen gradually declined, with the last documented mention of the family occurring in 1488 with Hiltprand von Hof. This marked the end of the von Hof family’s documented involvement with the site.

Ownership changed hands several times in the subsequent centuries. In 1735, the property came under the control of the Counts of Thürheim. Later, it passed to the Lords of Fischbach before being acquired in 1801 by Lieutenant General Wilhelm Karl Count von Eckart. His descendants, including Count Du Moulin-Eckart, maintained possession of the castle into later generations. Throughout these transitions, Burg Hof am Regen remained an important heritage site, embedded within the local nobility’s holdings.

Today, the castle is also part of an annual community event called the Geisterwanderung, shared with nearby castles Stefling and Stockenfels, highlighting its continuing cultural relevance within the region.