Gossweinstein was the home of the bishops of Bamberg for at least a hundred years of its existance. It was involved in and destroyed in both the Peasants Revolt and the Margrave War. A margrave was a governor of a "march" (border province). It was rebuilt in 1767. In 1890 it was acquired by the Freiherren (baron) von Sohlhern and remains today in that family.