Are you planning a trip to Germany? Don’t forget to read this article about the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany.
Germany is definitely a wonderful country to travel through. You’ll easily be able to find everything you need for an eventful journey. Germany is full of vibrant cities, romantic villages, dramatic mountain landscapes, and some of the most beautiful castles in Europe.
In fact, there are so many castles in Germany that it’s almost impossible to see them all in a lifetime. If you really want to see them all… Well then, it’s necessary to dedicate your whole life to the purpose. But why, you might ask? Because there are no less than 20,000+ castles in Germany. Who would have thought that? It’s an insanely impressive number of castles in Germany.
With that in mind, it isn’t exactly easy to choose which castles to visit in Germany. Luckily, I can help you with that. I’ve made a list of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany.
Table of Contents
The most beautiful Fairytale Castles in Germany:
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle isn’t only one of the most beautiful castles in Germany. It’s also one of the most beautiful castles in the world. This fairytale castle is so popular that it has become a great symbol of Germany. You can find the castle in the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany close to the Austrian border.
The castle most of all looks like something taken straight out of a fairy tale. Not even Walt Disney could stand the charm of the castle. He was so fascinated by Neuschwanstein Castle that he used it as an inspiration to create the world-famous Disney castle. If you would like to visit this fairytale castle in Germany, I recommend reading more on Neuschwanstein Castle’s official website.
2. Hohenschwangau Castle
If you’re already planning to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, don’t forget to swing past Hohenschwangau Castle. It’s literally a little further down the road and was built long before Neuschwanstein. Although Hohenschwangau Castle isn’t as popular as Neuschwanstein, it’s still an incredibly beautiful castle in Germany.
The castle was first mentioned in the 12th century. However, the current building only dates to the 19th century. It was built by King Maximilian II and was the childhood home of King Ludwig II. King Ludwig is the person who later built Neuschwanstein Castle further down the road. Together, the two castles carry an exciting family history. Read more on Hohenschwangau Castle’s website.
3. Eltz Castle
Eltz Castle is an ancient medieval castle and is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in Germany. It dates to the 12th century and is still home to the Eltz family. They’ve owned the castle for 33 generations.
Even though the Eltz family still lives there, it’s still possible to visit Eltz Castle. A family feud in the 12th century, however, resulted in the castle being divided into three parts. So today, you can only visit certain parts of the castle. The castle is located in western Germany and is totally worth a visit on your trip to Germany. You can read more on the official website of Eltz Castle.
4. Schwerin Castle
Schwerin Castle is an incredibly beautiful castle in northern Germany that you must not miss. It’s located in the most beautiful fairytale surroundings on an island in a large lake in the town of Schwerin. The beautiful location and the castle’s architecture make it easy to understand why it’s one of the best castles to visit in Germany.
The fairytale castle has a long and eventful history with several different functions through time. For example, dukes once lived here. Today, the state owns Schwerin Castle. If you’re interested in a visit, don’t forget to check out Schwerin Castle’s official site.
5. Hohenzollern Castle
Another of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany is Hohenzollern Castle. It’s located in southern Germany, about an hour’s drive from Stuttgart. The castle is built on top of a mountain at an altitude of 855 meters above sea level.
Besides the beautiful location, Hohenzollern Castle also has a unique architecture with several different styles. You can go on a guided tour inside the castle with extremely extravagant decor. Remember to soak in the breathtaking views on the way to the castle, but also from the castle itself. Read more on Hohenzollern Castle’s official site.
6. Heidelberg Palace
Heidelberg Palace consists partly of ruins of an old castle that originally dates from the 13th century. However, it must be said that these ruins are some of the most beautiful and popular ruins in Germany. Therefore, it’s one of the very best castles to visit in Germany.
The ancient castle ruins are located in southwestern Germany in the city of Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town. Schloss Heidelberg sits high above the city and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. It’s definitely a stunning castle with a dramatic history and fascinating architecture. You can read more on Heidelberg Palace’s official website.
7. Wartburg Castle
Wartburg Castle is an old medieval castle in the small town of Eisenach in the heart of Germany. The castle was originally built around the 12th century and is characterized by many different styles. With a long and significant history dating back more than 1,000 years, Wartburg is understandably a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In fact, it was right here at Wartburg Castle that Martin Luther lived while translating the New Testament of the Bible into German in 1521. The history of Wartburg also includes famous figures such as Adolf Hitler, King Ludwig II, and many others. There’s no doubt that Wartburg Castle is one of the best castles to visit in Germany for anyone interested in history. You can read more on Wartburg Castle’s official site.
8. Lichtenstein Castle
One of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany is Lichtenstein Castle, built in the 19th century. It’s beautifully situated on a high clifftop at an altitude of 817 meters above sea level. Lichtenstein Castle is located in southern Germany, about a 1-hour drive from Stuttgart.
Although it’s a popular castle in Germany, you shouldn’t expect to spend hours. Lichtenstein Castle isn’t that big and only offers guided tours in German that last about 30 minutes. Besides visiting the castle, you can also explore the ruins of an ancient medieval castle or go hiking. Read more on Lichtenstein Castle’s official website.
9. Burghausen Castle
In southern Germany on the border to Austria, you can find Burghausen Castle. With a length of about 1,051 meters, this ancient medieval castle is the longest castle complex in the world. Burghausen Castle covers a huge area and is extremely impressive.
Although Burghausen Castle may not be the most beautiful fairytale castle in Germany, it’s still extremely significant. With an interesting history and impressive architecture, it’s definitely one of the best castles to visit in Germany. You can read more on Burghausen Castle’s official site.
10. Cochem Castle
Cochem Castle is a beautiful castle in Germany. Over the last nearly 1,000 years, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The present castle on the site was built in 1868 in a beautiful neo-Gothic style.
Surrounded by lovely vineyards, the castle is located on a hilltop in the town of Cochem in western Germany. From here, there’s an extremely stunning view of the city and the Moselle River from more than 100 meters altitude. You can only get inside Cochem Castle on guided tours. However, it’s possible to walk around the castle gardens freely. Read more on Cochem Castle’s official site.
11. Frankenstein Castle
Frankenstein Castle is located on a hilltop near the town of Darmstadt, about an hour’s drive south of Frankfurt am Main. Despite not being one of the most popular castles in Germany, Frankenstein Castle is still worth a visit.
The old castle dates back to the 12th century. Although not known for sure, it’s believed that Frankenstein Castle has been a great inspiration for the world-famous novel Frankenstein. The castle served as a prison and a military hospital in the 17th century. And in fact, medical experiments have been performed at the castle too.
As a result of the scary story, the castle hosts many spooky events throughout the year. The most popular is Germany’s largest Halloween festival, held every year in October. Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance and that they’re sold out quickly.
12. Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace is located in Munich in southern Germany. This palace is one of the largest royal castles in Europe and one of the most beautiful castles in the world. It was formerly used as a summer residence for royalty but is today administered by the state.
When arriving at the castle, you can visit several different museums or stroll around a huge park. Inside the park, you’ll be able to find canals, bridges, sculptures, castle buildings, and much more. There’s no doubt that the Nymphenburg Palace is one of the most beautiful castles in Germany. Read more on Nymphenburg Palace’s official site.
So, that’s all on this list of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany. Have you already visited some of the beautiful fairytale castles in Germany? Which castles would you like to visit on your trip to Germany? Feel free to leave a comment.
Planning a trip to Germany? You might also like these articles:
- Top 10 Best Amusement Parks in Germany
- Travel Guide to Berlin
- 20 Best Things to Do in Berlin
- 17 Best Things to Do in Hamburg, Germany
- Travel Guide to Hamburg
- 17 Very Best Things to Do in Frankfurt
… Or read all articles from Germany.
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