Three castles in Germany to start your castle-hunting obsession
In the land of exquisite food and beer, famous football players, modern medicine, luxurious cars, cathedrals, and festivals, one can also find extraordinary marvels of architecture.
Over 20.000 castles grace the beautiful natural landscape of Germany and make us want to be royalty. Some are medieval and in ruins; others are so well preserved that you might think they were built just yesterday. Walt Disney took some inspiration from them, many plan their whole trip to Germany just to visit as many as possible, and not a single soul remains unsatisfied.
If you want to start exploring them but don't know where to start, we have suggestions. They all have seasonal visitation plans when the crowds are the biggest, but some can be visited off-season when you still get the best of them.
Choose wisely.
Neuschwanstein, Bavaria — THE castle
In the southeast part of Germany, the Alps hide a jewel of 19th-century architecture, Neuschwanstein Castle. Undoubtedly the first castle that comes to mind when talking about Germany, its ornate look is associated with the mysterious and thought to be insane King Ludwig II. It is an understatement to say that he was prone to drama.
Neuschwanstein was built at Ludwig's behest to make it his hideaway, long after the need for their military roles had disappeared. Shortly after his death, the castle was opened to the public, and something tells us that he would wholeheartedly hate that.
Neuschwanstein quickly became one of the symbols of Germany, visited by more than 1.4 million people every year. Remember Walt Disney? The exterior of this castle served as the inspiration behind the beloved castle of Sleeping Beauty.
A walk through Neuschwanstein halls
Although King Ludwig had financial problems that stopped his grandiose plans, all the finished rooms exude a luxury that is sometimes over the top. Out of 200 planned rooms, 15 are wholly decorated with golden, emerald, and blue details, intricate furniture, and wall decorations.
For safety and conservation reasons, the guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle lasts 35 minutes, during which photography is prohibited. On that occasion, you will get acquainted with the life of King Ludwig and the legends that accompany him, and there will be mentions of essential points in the castle's development.
If you plan to visit it during the summer months, be prepared for more than 6,000 people each day who have come with the same goal. Be wise and buy or book your tickets months in advance. We recommend you visit this part of Germany during your early spring vacation.
You have to walk directly to the castle, but no worries. Hohenschwangau Valley has a parking lot from where it only takes 30 minutes of walking through the idyllic nature of southern Germany to reach your destination.
Hohenzollern Castle — Guardian of the Jewels
Mount Hohenzollern is one of the three peaks in Germany as a building ground for impressive castles. Once you find yourself in the corridors of Hohenzollern Castle, you will truly understand why it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Germany.
History and the uncertain times were not kind to it; we were robbed of its original condition from the 11th century when it was first built. We must fangirl about the atmospheric nature of the castle's location - The Black Forest embraces its walls and towers, and the wide-open view reaches Lake Constance and Stuttgart!
Experience the royal atmosphere
The Hohenzollern dynasty gave us this architectural gem, in which Prussian kings, Swabian counts and princes, and German emperors lived for centuries. Intrigue, political and personal discussions, and the music of lavish balls almost seem to be haunting the rooms.
More than 350,000 people pass through the castle every year and learn about its heritage. Over 140 decorated rooms welcome you in their best state during that visit, favorite amongst visitors being the Ancestry Hall, Count's Hall, the chapel, and the library.
One of the tour's highlights is the exhibition of the royal jewels that have been saved to this day, Fredrick the Great's uniform, and Queen Louise's elaborate dresses. You can visit this castle all year round, and we remind you to get your tickets on time.
Lichtenstein castle, the main character of a winter wonderland
Neo-Gothic fans, this one is for you. How it's placed on top of a cliff can only be described as magic. Good math, for sure, but we prefer to call it magic. Although it is one of the smallest castles in Germany, it is not poorly visited.
The Württemberg dynasty and its counts were its most prominent tenants, which is why their names often come hand in hand. Today's appearance of Lichtenstein castle is not original, which has faded due to the many devastating wars.
The view of the Echaz river from the height of 817 meters is exciting throughout the year. However, when winter comes to these areas, you get to live out your Hallmark fantasies. Snow-covered Echaz Valley and Swabian Alps are only an hour's drive from Stuttgart, and we consider them a top-tier destination for a winter vacation.
Climb your way to a Lichtenstein castle tour
To the lovers of hiking, this castle is very dear because of the challenging terrain that leads to it. The thirty-minute tour, accompanied by a guide, focuses on the most crucial moments and locations inside the castle, leaving you enough space and time to admire it at your own pace. On that occasion, you will visit the first two floors. You can rent a Gerobau or courtyard for a private celebration.
We'll stop here, but you are just starting. We do hope you don't forget the many other castles in Germany that can show you so much beauty and excitement — Heidelberg Castle, Nuremberg Castle, Marburg castle, Drachenburg Castle, Schönburg Castle, Löwenburg Castle, and Burg Altena are must-see at least once in a lifetime.
If you are hesitant about going on a tour of European castles, hopefully, our blog about castles in Germany can clear some of your worries and answer questions that you might have. So, the next time you think about your travels, wish upon a star and move Germany up on your bucket list.
