In the midst of the chaos of the Thirty Years' War, Hofhegnenberg Castle was spared destruction. A statue of the Virgin Mary is said to have defied the flames and made the castle a place of faith and hope to this day.
During the Swedish invasions of the Bruck and Wittelsbach regions between 1632 and 1648, almost everything was devastated. Hofhegnenberg Castle, however, was an exceptional exception. Legend has it that Swedish soldiers threw a statue of the Virgin Mary from the castle chapel into the fire. Contrary to all expectations, it remained intact - without soot, without damage. The soldiers panicked and fled. The church and castle remained untouched.
This event made Hofhegnenberg a well-known place of pilgrimage. To this day, the Madonna stands in the chapel and symbolises divine protection in times of greatest need. The story combines real war experiences with religious tradition and is a defining example of the spiritual significance of historical places. Hofhegnenberg Castle thus symbolises not only nobility and architecture, but also faith, hope and European cultural heritage.