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The origins of Sommersdorf are obscure. Early in the 13th century, a noble family named de Sunnemannesdorf settled here and presumably gave the village its name.
The castle is rich in history, and was built in the late 14th century by Ludwig von Eyb. His grandson Albrecht von Eyb, born at 1420 at Sommersdorf, became Germany’s first humanistic writer.
The Crailsheim family owns the castle since 1550. Wolf von Crailsheim brought the Protestant reformation to Sommersdorf in 1551, and his son Ernst enlarged the family holdings by purchases and grants.
During the Thirty Years War (1618-48) between the Catholics and the Protestants, Sommersdorf suffered a great deal. Houses in the village were plundered and burned, the fields lay fallow and the population was severely decimated by war and plague. But the castle itself survived.
In mid-19th century, the top floor of the Old Castle was pulled down due to dilapidation, the draw-bridge was replaced by a permanent bridge, and he castle was generally restored. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Schloss Sommersdorf has been continuously inhabited by the von Crailsheim family.
1208 – 2008
800 Years Sommersdorf
On occasion of the 800th anniversary of Sommersdorf in 2008 some lectures were held and published:
Die Geschichte von Schloss Sommersdorf von Freiherr Manfred von Crailsheim
Ludwig von Eyb – wie ein fränkischer Ritter nach Berlin kam von Eugen Schoeler
Albrecht von Eyb von Prof. Schmitz
