German castles

Heidelberg, Neuschwanstein & my favourite castles in Germany

Why are there so many ruins and castles in Germany?

Famous & lesser-known German Castles

• Heidelberg Castle (Schloss Heidelberg)
  Discover the majestic Schloss, enjoy breath-taking views, see the world's largest wine barrel and Germany's pharmacy museum, and walk around the beautiful gardens. There is so much to do at Heidelberg castle.
  With estimated 3 million visitors each year, both Heidelberg and its majestic castle are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany.

• Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein)
  Built in the 19th century, this palace is another favourite tourist destination and well-known around the world. About 1,3 million visitors come to see Neuschwanstein each year.
  Commissioned by the eccentric Bavarian King Ludwig II, this fairy-tale castle overlooks the village of Hohenschwangau (with another beautiful castle) and is close to Fussen in southern Bavaria.
  The design was influenced by Ludwig's love for Richard Wagner's operas, which reflect ancient German mythology.

• Wartburg Castle
  Situated on a precipice close to Eisenach, Thuringia, the Wartburg is one of the oldest and most important historical castles in Germany. The UNESCO added the Wartburg to the World Heritage list in 1999 for its cultural significance, being an "Outstanding Monument of the Feudal Period in Central Europe".
  As "Junker Joerg", Martin Luther stayed incognito at the castle for 9 months. During this time he translated the New Testament from Latin to German.

• Hohenzollern Castle (Burg Hohenzollern)
  In a beautiful setting on top of the 855m (2,805 ft) Mount Hohenzollern near Hechingen, the origins of Hohenzollern date back to the first half of the 11th century.
  The ancestral seat of the Prussian Kings and Emperors was destroyed twice during its long history. The castle you see today was built in the 19th century. It is still owned by the Brandenburg-Prussian line, and the Swabian line of the Hohenzollern family.

• Saalburg
  The Saalburg is the most completely reconstructed Roman fort in Germany. It is part of the upper German Limes, and is situated close to Bad Homburg in Hesse.
  In the late 19th century research and examinations of the Limes Germanicus and its forts lead to detailed excarvations in the Saalburg area. Kaiser Wilhelm II. ordered the reconstruction of thi Roman fort.
  Today, the Saalburg is an archaeological park and museum, and a favourite destination for school excursions.

• Harburg Castle
  This medieval fortress is one of the largest Staufer castles in Germany. The impressive complex overlooks the small village Harburg on the Romantic Road. It's appearance has not changed much since the 18th century.
  Explore more than 900 years of history on a guided tour, live and dine like a "king" in the hotel & restaurant. You won't regret your visit.

• Burg Eltz
  The castle in the Eifel mountains dates back to the early 12th century. It has been owned by members of the Eltz family ever since.
  Burg Eltz was never destroyed in a war, so you can clearly see how the different families added new buildings within the walls. This fact gives the castle its somewhat unusual appearance, highly interesting.

• Schloss Stetten
  This beautiful little castle will always have a special meaning for me. My husband and I discovered this lovely place on our first holiday in the 1970s, we even spent one night in the castle which was a hotel at that time.
  Of course, we visited Schloss Stetten every time we were nearby, and we saw a lot of changes since then.