Sanspareil rock garden and Zwernitz castle in Bavaria

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated August 2026 | Sanspareil Stone Garden is a stunning 18th-century landscape garden located just outside Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany. It includes a ruined theater, the fabulous oriental building, and the medieval Zwernit Castle.

Sanspareil rock garden and Zwernitz Castle

Sanspareil Stone Garden was built in the English style between 1744 and 1748. The oriental house and castle, which is just next door, can also be seen inside during the summer months. We visited here with our motorhome last summer.

Sanspareil is located in the municipality of Wonsees, not far from Bayreuth in the German federal state of Bavaria.

Sanspareil stone garden - "It's unrivalled".

The work of constructing the Sanspareil rock garden was initiated by Margrave Frederick III of Brandenburg-Bayreuth and completed by his wife, Margrave Wilhelmine.

When one of Margrave Wilhelmine's ladies-in-waiting saw the park's strange stone formations, she is said to have exclaimed "C'est sans pareil!", meaning "It is unparalleled!". And that is now the name of the park...

We can agree that the park, or rock garden, offers a delightful and imaginative environment. There are lots of exciting rock formations to look at, or climb around... Although many of the houses and statues that once stood here are now gone, there are still plenty of arches, caves and stairs.

In the garden you will find, among other things:

• Parterre - a geometric area with pyramid trees
• The umbrella - a cliff with a wide overhang
• Diana's cave - a cave, where there were once sculptures of the goddess Diana with a bow and arrow and three nymphs with hunting dogs.
• Volcano Cave and Bear Hole - the park's largest cave, where you can also find the smaller cave Björnhålet.
• Belvedere - a cliff where there was once an octagonal pavilion.
• Calypso's cave - a cave at the foot of the Belvedere rock, where there were once statues of Calypso and others

When we were here, in the middle of the summer, the area was also very green.

The ruined theatre in Sanspareil stone garden

One of the most special places in the Sanspareil rock garden is the so-called ruined theatre. This is one of the buildings that has survived almost intact since its construction in the 18th century.

It is not known whether the theatre was originally used for performances, but it is likely that it was, as there is room for an orchestra and an audience. If nothing else, musical pieces have been performed here during the summer months, from 1985 onwards.

Oriental building in Sanspareil

The Sanspareil rock garden also features the fabulous oriental building, Morgenländischer Bau. It was built in the 1740s according to designs by court architect Joseph Saint-Pierre and served as a rural retreat for the margrave couple.

The building has recently undergone extensive restoration and reopened in 2026. It now houses a permanent exhibition that tells the story of Sanspareil's natural and cultural history, from the area's geological origins to the imaginative landscaping created here in the 18th century.

The building itself is also worth a closer look. The fairytale exterior contrasts with elegant Rococo rooms, and here you can take a look at the interior, historical objects and the small courtyard.

As well as looking at furnishings and wallpaper, you can check out the small courtyard.

Borgen Zwernitz

When visiting the Sanspareil Stone Garden, you can also take the opportunity to check out Zwernitz Castle. The castle was first mentioned in 1156 and has been destroyed, burned down and rebuilt over the centuries. In the 1740s, Margrave Wilhelmine had parts of the castle renovated at the same time as the Sanspareil Stone Garden was laid out below.

There is not much to see inside the castle, but you can check out some rooms and some old weapons, and you can also go up the tower.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

If you are traveling by motorhome, there is, among other things, motorhome parking P Grünewaldstrasse in Bayreuth, about a 15–20 minute walk from the historic city center. There is water and drainage available.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

There is a lot to see and do near Sanspareil Rock Garden. Here you will find recommendations and tips from us:

• Things to do in Bayreuth
• Hermitage Palace Park
• Things to do in Bamberg
• Things to do in Wurzburg