Germany is widely known for their history, beer, food and beautiful fairytale castles. While all are fascinating subjects to explore, this article is a journey that will take you down the Rhine River, high in the mountains of Bavaria, deep in the forests and center stage in small towns and cities where the castles of Germany attract tourists from all over the world. There are over 25,000 castles in Germany. Some are small and some large, but nothing compares to the beautiful architecture, style, history and experience that each castle delivers to those who visit. After spending close to five years in Germany, I have visited many castles that compare little to standing on a platform on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Skiing in the beautiful countryside in Austria, walking though Anne Frank’s hideout in Amsterdam or enjoying a beer at Oktoberfest in Munich. I wish I could introduce you to every castle in Germany, but for now, let’s explore 12 provided in no particular order of popularity.
Reichsburg Cochem
Along the Moselle River stands the castle of Reichsburg Cochem in Cochem. The castle was built by a palatinate count in 1000 AD and was later pawned off by an emperor to pay for his coronation. In 1689, the castle suffered much structural damage when King Louis XIV invaded the region. The castle was rebuilt in 1868 by Louis Revene, a wealthy businessman from Berlin. Instead of rebuilding the castle to its original form, it was built to mimic a Neo-Gothic style making it a popular renaissance castle complete with baroque furniture and special events that take visitors back to the medieval days. Regular events take place in the castle, such as concerts, medieval festivals and celebrations. During my visit to the castle, myself and others enjoyed a tour followed by a historical banquet in a large hall complete with delicious food (to be eaten by hand), music, dance and a royal court that dines with the visitors.
Mespelbrunn Castle
Between Frankfurt and Wurzburg, in the small town of Mespelbrunn and on the water bank of Spessart Forest is Mespelbrunn Castle. It is the most popular water castle in Germany. The original structure of Mespelbrunn Castle is much different than what visitors see today as it was rebuilt in the 15th century. The original owner was Hamann Echter who built the castle on land given to him as a reward by Prince Elector, Johann II of Nassau for service he gave to the Czechs. The original castle was much like a small house with the purpose to house the Echter family. What remains today is not the full form of what Peter Echter built; rather bits and pieces of the Renaissance castle has changed over time after small alterations were made by generations of the family. Only one original tower remains. The castle was first opened to the public in the 1930’s to help the family after enduring some economic stress. The current owners of the castle live in the southern wing allowing visitors to tour the main rooms and castle grounds. All the furnishings and trinkets are original pieces of the castle. It is often used for concerts, weddings and other special occasions.
Wartburg Castle
This medieval castle is located high on a hill in Eisenach and is one of the best preserved castles in Germany. It is said to be founded by Ludwig der Springer in 1067. Under him, the Ludovinger family ruled the central territory of Germany for over 200 years. In the 16th century, Martin Luther used the castle as a hide-out for eleven weeks while he completed the translation of the New Testament. The castle received much attention from Adolf Hitler when he attempted to replace the cross located on the exterior of the castle with a swastika. The castle was pillaged by Soviet troops during WWII, but was named a national monument by the German Democratic Republic soon after. Visitors can view an art collection, tapestries, medieval musical instruments and silverware in the museum. Daily tours are offered, which highlight the cell of Martin Luther and the interior style and furnishings of the castle.
Schwerin Castle
Often compared to the Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwein Castle is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northeast Germany. First built in the 10th century as a fort, Schwerin Castle is now a Neo-Renaissance castle that exudes regality as it is the seat of the grand duchy. The castle was first referenced in notes written by Ibrahim ibn Jacub, a Spanish-Moorish traveler. In the 12th century, the fort was destroyed and rebuilt by Henry the Lion, a Germanic conqueror. In the 16th century, Duke Johann Albrecht added bastions, a chapel and other features to increase its status in which it soon became Schwein Castle. The following years left the castle vacant with much construction. In the 19th century, three Grand Dukes rebuilt the castle to what visitors see today. Since then, a fire destroyed 1/3 of the castle in 1913 and the museum was changed into a school when communism took form between 1952 and 1981. In the 1990’s, Schwerin Castle was given a seat in parliament and formed a museum on the grounds once again, making it a popular location for tourists.
Heidelberg Castle
The city of Heidelberg is home to one of Germany’s most beautiful castles. Heidelberg Castle sits 300 feet above the city with the view of Neckar River and Neckar Valley. The castle is made up of several buildings (each highlighting a different period of German architecture) surrounding a large courtyard. The first building was built in 1300, but remained vacant until 1398 when Prince Elector Ruprecht III made the castle home. Thereafter, the castle endured some destruction. In 1689, the French destroyed Powder Tower and has since remained in ruin. Mark Twain made the tower famous in his book “A Tramp Abroad”. In 1764, the castle was destroyed by lighting making it unlivable until 1800 when Count Charles de Graimberg accepted the task of conserving what was left of the castle after Heidelberg citizens took much of the stones to build new homes in the city below.
Today, there is much to see at Heidelberg Castle. During my many visits to Heidelberg Castle, I enjoyed walking around the beautifully landscaped gardens and the Apothecary Museum. It is within the castle that the world’s largest wine barrel is displayed, known as the Heidelberg Tun. Speaking of wine, it is also the location my husband purchased a bottle of Eiswein to save until the day he would propose to his future wife. Years later, we met. Two years thereafter he proposed and that evening we shared the bottle of Eiswein; the most delicious wine I have tasted.
Hohenschwangau Castle
The castle is located in southern Germany in the village of Hohenschwangau near Fussen; Not far from Neuschwanstein Castle. It was one of the childhood homes of King Ludwig II. The knights of Schwangau owned the castle until the 16th century. Thereafter, the castle was handed down several times and was the subject of much destruction brought on by wars in the region. King Maximilian II, father of King Ludwig II, rebuilt the castle in 1832 and used it as a summer and hunting home for the royal family. Guided tours are the only way to view the castle. Tours allow visitors to view the hall of heroes, Queen Mary’s bedroom, the Hahenstaufen room (dressing room of King Maximilian II and King Ludwig), the Tasso room (bedroom of King Ludwig II), the Berchata room (writing room of Queen Mary) and more.
Burg Eltz
Between Koblenz and Trier is the Eltz Castel located high in the hills overlooking the Moselle River. It is separated into three sections for each branch of families that joined to build the castle in the 12th century. Thirty-three generations of the original families still own the castle; some continued to make it their home. Approximately 100 family members have occupied over 100 rooms within the castle. Particular portions of the castle are open for public viewing. Visitors can view authentic medieval furniture with a modern touch.
Hohenzollern Castle
Perched on top of Mount Hehenzollern, south of Stuttgart is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions. This castle has seen its fare share of changes. The first construction of the Hohenzollern Castle was built in the 11th century. It was completely destroyed by a 10-month siege in 1423 by the imperial cities of Swabia. A larger castle was constructed in 1461 and soon became a refuge for Catholic Swabian Hohenzollerns at time of war. By the 18th century, the castle reached disrepair leading to the demolition of some buildings. The third construction of the castle soon followed in 1867 and is the structure that stands today. Members of the Hohenzollern family rarely visited the castle until 1945 when the son of the previous Hohenzollern monarch, Crown Prince Wilhelm, made it his home for a short time before falling to his death in World War II. Over 300,000 visitors tour the castle each year. Visitors can view historical artifacts such as a uniform worn by Frederick the Great and the Prussian king’s crown.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The beauty and majesty of Neuschwanstein Castle has established its reputation as the most popular and jaw-dropping castles in Europe. Neuschwanstein sits high on the hill watching over the village of Hohenschwangau in Bavaria. It’s romantic style and profound presence was brought to us by King Ludwig II who built the castle to establish his own kingdom after enduring a political disappointment following the loss of a war against Prussia in 1866. In effort to remain close to his childhood home, Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig II chose to build his castle a short distance away. His design was influenced by the romantic architecture of Hohenschwangau Castle. In fact the original name of Neuschwanstein was New Hohenschwangau only to be changed after his death. In 1884, Ludwig II moved into Neuschwanstein and over time withdrew himself from the public. Following the death of Ludwig II in 1886, the castle opened its doors for public viewing.
Having spent some time in the castle myself, I have to say it’s like nothing I have seen. When I entered the village of Hohenschwangau, I saw Neuschwanstein high on the hill barely visible in the morning fog. We walked up the steep road towards the castle where we were greeted by an arched entrance and a large patio. Before entering the castle I walked along the patio to take in the view of Bavaria. Its beauty cannot be put into words.
Rooms within the castle can only be explored by a guided tour and photographs are not authorized within the castle. Our guide provided interesting information, but I heard little as I was too invested in sight; its beauty overpowering. Like me and so many, Walt Disney became highly influenced by Neuschwanstein as its design assisted in the architectural build of the infamous Cinderella Castle at Disney parks. If you plan to visit Germany, or Europe for that matter, I highly recommend making plans to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.
Frankenstein Castle
Resting on the hilltop in Darmstadt, Germany is the ruins of the Frankenstein Castle. The castle was built around 1250 by Lord Conrad II who later renamed himself Von und zu Frankenstein. From that point, the castle has a long history of ownership and political alliances, but eventually fell to ruins in the 18th century. It is said that the Frankenstein Castle and a particular resident (enthusiastic and crazed scientist, Konrad Dippel) influenced Mary Shelley in writing her gothic novel, Frankenstein.
The castle is easy to access and can be explored in a short time as only a chapel, a restaurant and two towers remain. It is most visited on Halloween night where arranged activities and haunted trails create a spooky experience for visitors. Halloween festivities at the Frankenstein Castle were started by American soldiers stationed near the castle during WWII.
Burg Nanstein
I know this castle well as I visited it often. Located in Landstuhl, it is often referred to as the Landstuhl Castle. The castle is only minutes from Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where many wounded soldiers are transported from the Middle East. It sits high on the hill overlooking the town of Landstuhl where locals and visitors can enjoy amazing food and shop at cute boutiques. The medieval castle was built by Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa in 1150. Over time it has fallen to ruin, but remains intact due to some restorations. It is open most days for self guided and guided tours.
Hohenecken Castle
I fell in love with this castle soon after I moved to Germany. It sits peacefully on the Schlossberg hilltop overlooking Hohenecken, a suburb of Kaiserslautern only minutes from an Air Force Base.
The build date of the castle is unknown, but is believed to be around 1200. In 1689 portions of the castle was destroyed by French troops. Experts express that the castle is one of the most interesting of the Staufer period. Now in ruins, the castle is often visited by locals and tourists looking for a simple outing complete with a short hike and a packed lunch. I spent many days on the castle grounds doing homework on my days off. While it’s not as majestic as Neuschwanstein or as intriguing as Frankenstein, it holds a dear place in my heart as it was my place of study and solitude for some time.
Explore and Discover
The world is meant to be discovered and experienced. Without travel, understanding and inspiration cannot be fully established in one’s mind. My hope is that you travel often and see all the beauty this world beholds. Pictures can only introduce, but experiences will awaken you in ways you never thought would be possible.
Please share your experiences and any additional information you can add below in the comments section. I’ve enjoyed hearing from my readers. Enjoy your journey!
Marc Weinmann says
August 9, 2015 at 5:34 amHello.
One description of the castles is wrong.
There is no Wartburg Lichtenstein Castle.
They are two different castles, the Wartburg and the Lichtenstein Castle.
The photo here on the website is from the Lichtenstein Castle, it´s near to Reutlingen, which is near to Stuttgart.
But the text is about the Wartburg. That´s a different castle and not the one, which is on the photo.
Greetings from Germany
Megan says
August 10, 2015 at 6:44 pmThank you for your reply and information. Through further research I found that you are correct and I have made the changes. Again, thank you for letting me know. I miss Germany and can’t wait to return. There is so much to see and do that I would like to return to and further explore.
Tony SIMONNEAU says
September 26, 2016 at 6:18 pmThank you for sharing all this, it’s beautiful!