Burg Leuchtenberg is regarded as the best-preserved castle ruin in the Upper Palatinate. It was first documented in writing in 1124 and served as the ancestral seat of the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg. The noble family of Leuchtenberg rose to the rank of landgraves in 1196 and was elevated to princely status in the 15th century. During its heyday, the landgraviate gained considerable importance in what is now Bavaria and, after the Wittelsbachs and the Church, possessed the third-largest territorial holdings. Until the extinction of the family in 1646, their possessions continued to grow steadily.

Over the centuries, the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg ranked among the most influential noble families of their time, with a sphere of influence extending from Vienna via Prague and Warsaw to England, Paris, Avignon, and southern Italy. Far beyond the walls of Burg Leuchtenberg, the family name gained prominence and was associated with eminent historical figures such as Frederick Barbarossa, the House of Luxembourg, and Ludwig the Bavarian. The Landgraves of Leuchtenberg were often called upon as arbitrators in disputes within the Empire; their motto was “Honour and Loyalty.”

Burg Leuchtenberg is visible from afar, situated on a 585-metre-high, flattened granite outcrop. To the east and south, the houses of the market town of Leuchtenberg nestle against the castle hill. Known as one of the largest and most important castle complexes in the region, it is often referred to as the “Acropolis of the Upper Palatinate.” The first structural complex was probably built as early as the 10th or 11th century. The oldest surviving parts of the masonry date back to Landgrave Ulrich I (1294–1334). In 1332, the Leuchtenbergs relocated their residence to Pfreimd. Over the course of its history, the castle suffered severe destruction, particularly in the 17th century, as well as during the great fire in Leuchtenberg in 1842 and a lightning strike in 1888. Partial reconstruction, especially of the bergfried, took place in 1902/03. Today, the castle complex is in state ownership.