Germany’s Most Beautiful Castles

Whether for knights or for princesses, Germany’s castles can whisk us off to a fairytale just by setting eyes on them. Their walls tell stories of long-gone epochs, inviting us to discover their legends. Today we bring you Germany’s most stunning castles with the guarantee that none of them will leave you cold. Once upon a time there was…

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria

A Bavarian king by the name of Ludwig II… Neuschwanstein Castle is one of Germany’s most popular attractions, a must see that summons visitors from all over the world. Every summer over 6,000 people travel to southern Bavaria to admire this building, commissioned by King Ludwig in 1869 to represent a castle from the Middle Ages. Its romantic appearance makes it look like it belongs in the pages of a fairytale, and so it’s no wonder that it was the main source of inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland.

Löwenburg, Kassel

With its numerous towers and windows, Löwenburg is a charming castle that now functions as a museum. Its furniture, paintings, tapestries, stained glass windows, bronze artifacts, and armory reflect its builder’s passion for collecting. This castle has served as the filming location for some German movies and TV series, and in the year 2014 it featured in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Eltz Castle, Koblenz

This castle is thought to be one of Germany’s prettiest and best-preserved castles, as it’s practically the only construction along the Eifel to remain untouched after the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, and the French Revolution. In the summer months, there are daily guided tours of the castle and its Schatzkammer, the treasury. Its weapons, suits of armor, bedchambers, halls, living rooms and kitchens help us relive the history and culture of a time period spanning eight centuries.

Schwerin Palace, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Schwerin Palace is located in Schwerin, in the heart of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state, on an island, in a picturesque setting amidst lakes and greenery. Today it serves as the residence of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament, where concerts are also organized regularly. Its romantic appearance and the fascination it elicits on its visitors, have earned this palace the name of “Neuschwanstein of the North”.

Moyland Castle, Kleve

Moated castle Schloss Moyland is one of the most important neo-gothic buildings in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its name derives from the Dutch words mooi land meaning “beautiful country”. This fortress was built in the late 13th century, and then rebuilt in several occasions. Nowadays, it functions as a modern art museum surrounded by a huge garden that attracts many travelers every year.

Hohenzollern Castle, Stuttgart

In the words of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, the Hohenzollern Castle well deserves a visit for the views alone. And it’s no surprise, as the castle sits on a mountain 855 meters tall. The views are breathtaking, and especially so in the wintertime, when the mountain is blanketed in snow. The tour provides insight into anecdotes and stories of the lives of its rulers and monarchs.

Lichtenstein, Württemberg

Sitting atop a rock and only reachable via a bridge… there’s no doubt there could hardly be a more perilous location for a castle. Castle Lichtenstein was considered unconquerable back in the Middle Ages, but it gradually lost prominence and eventually fell to ruin. It was reconstructed in the year 1837, and as it stands nowadays, it truly looks as if it belonged in a fairytale.