In 1749 margravine Wilhelmine wrote: “here nature itself was the architect” It was said, that the name of the rock garden came from an exclamation of a visitor: "C`est sans pareil!" ("This is unequaled!")
Oriental building
The Oriental Building, which served as a rural hermitage, is also particularly attractive with its fairy-tale, oriental-looking exterior decorated with paste and tuff. The interior is by contrast rather severe, with only sparingly applied stucco-work in the Bayreuth rococo style.
Opening hours:
mid-May to September: 9 am-6 pm
1st to 18 October: 10 am-5 pm
closed Mondays
(except: Easter Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 3 October)
19 October to mid-May: closed
There are no regular guided tours of the Oriental Building.
Zwernitz Castle
In the immediate neighborhood thrones a charming medieval castle from which one can enjoy a wonderful panorama over the Franconian Switzerland.
Opening hours
April-September: 9 am-6 pm
1st to 18 October: 10 am-5 pm
closed Mondays
(except: Easter Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 3 October)
19 October to March: closed
There are no regular guided tours of Zwernitz Castle.
Sanspareil Rock Garden
Here one sees a unique garden layout from the time of the argrave couple Friederich and Wilhelmine, who created in midst bizarre rock formations a pleasance after a literary program. It was far ahead of its time and founded in modern times an independent garden type.
Opening hours
Sanspareil Rock Garden is open all year round.