German Castles

Discover the history, architecture, and legends behind Germany's most magnificent castles and palaces—from Bavarian fairy tales to Prussian grandeur.

100
Historic Landmarks
16
German States
1000+
Years of History

Explore by Region

Filter by German state to find castles near your destination.

Neuschwanstein Castle
Featured Bavaria

Neuschwanstein Castle

The fairy-tale vision of King Ludwig II—Disney's inspiration. Must-book tickets online, P4 parking fills by 9 AM.

Romanesque Revival Explore →
Hohenschwangau Castle
Bavaria

Hohenschwangau Castle

Ludwig II's childhood home—buy combo tickets at Ticket Center, not at castle.

Neo-Gothic Palace Explore →
Linderhof Palace
Bavaria

Linderhof Palace

The only palace Ludwig II completed. Venus Grotto closed for renovation until 2024.

Rococo Palace Explore →
Nymphenburg Palace
Bavaria

Nymphenburg Palace

Bayern-Ticket ≠ admission. 14-Day Ticket €35 = 40+ palaces hack.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Würzburg Residence
Bavaria

Würzburg Residence

NO PHOTOS inside, vigilant security. Talavera = FREE parking hack.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Nuremberg Castle
Bavaria

Nuremberg Castle

Imperial castle where every Holy Roman Emperor resided 1050-1571.

Imperial Castle Explore →
Burghausen Castle
Bavaria

Burghausen Castle

World's longest castle at 1051m—overlooking Austria border.

Medieval Fortress Explore →
Veste Coburg
Bavaria

Veste Coburg

Where Martin Luther hid during translation. Major art collection.

Medieval Fortress Explore →
Hohenzollern Castle
Baden-Württemberg

Hohenzollern Castle

Bus 306 only twice daily. Zeller Horn = real photo spot.

Gothic Revival Explore →
Heidelberg Castle
Baden-Württemberg

Heidelberg Castle

P12 has 1.80m height limit. Deutschlandticket invalid for funicular.

Renaissance Ruin Explore →
Schwetzingen Palace
Baden-Württemberg

Schwetzingen Palace

BW-Ticket INVALID before 9 AM weekdays. 90-space parking trap.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Ludwigsburg Palace
Baden-Württemberg

Ludwigsburg Palace

TWO SEPARATE TICKETS trap. 1.5km uphill from station.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Lichtenstein Castle
Baden-Württemberg

Lichtenstein Castle

GPS routes to WRONG stop. €4 courtyard fee for THE photo.

Romantic Revival Explore →
Burg Hohenneuffen
Baden-Württemberg

Burg Hohenneuffen

Dual-vector trap: 330m climb vs 41m stroll. APP ONLY parking.

Medieval Ruin Explore →
Bruchsal Palace
Baden-Württemberg

Bruchsal Palace

Stunning Baroque staircase. Home of German Music Automata Museum.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Meersburg Castle
Baden-Württemberg

Meersburg Castle

Germany's oldest inhabited castle on Lake Constance.

Medieval Castle Explore →
Burg Eltz
Rhineland-Palatinate

Burg Eltz

CASH ONLY everywhere. No mobile signal. Parking fills 11 AM.

Medieval Castle Explore →
Marksburg Castle
Rhineland-Palatinate

Marksburg Castle

ONLY undestroyed Rhine hilltop castle. English tours 1PM/4PM only.

Medieval Fortress Explore →
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Rhineland-Palatinate

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

Fortress lift FREE with D-Ticket vs €19 cable car trap.

Prussian Fortress Explore →
Burg Rheinstein
Rhineland-Palatinate

Burg Rheinstein

2-hour parking trap with fines. School bus with midday gaps.

Rhine Castle Explore →
Burg Stahleck
Rhineland-Palatinate

Burg Stahleck

Now a youth hostel—stay overnight in a Rhine castle!

Rhine Castle Explore →
Reichsburg Cochem
Rhineland-Palatinate

Reichsburg Cochem

Iconic Moselle castle with steep vineyard approach.

Imperial Castle Explore →
Hambach Castle
Rhineland-Palatinate

Hambach Castle

"Cradle of German democracy"—historic 1832 festival site.

Historic Monument Explore →
Sanssouci Palace
Brandenburg

Sanssouci Palace

"Park Sanssouci" station = 2.5km TRAP. Timed-entry no grace period.

Rococo Palace Explore →
Charlottenburg Palace
Berlin

Charlottenburg Palace

Berlin's largest palace—Baroque masterpiece with stunning gardens.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Dresden Zwinger
Saxony

Dresden Zwinger

Baroque masterpiece housing the Old Masters Gallery.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Moritzburg Castle
Saxony

Moritzburg Castle

Famous "Cinderella" filming location on an artificial island.

Hunting Lodge Explore →
Colditz Castle
Saxony

Colditz Castle

The famous WWII POW prison—escape museum and tunnels.

Renaissance Castle Explore →
Albrechtsburg Meissen
Saxony

Albrechtsburg Meissen

Germany's first castle—birthplace of Meissen porcelain.

Late Gothic Castle Explore →
Frankenstein Castle
Hesse

Frankenstein Castle

Possible inspiration for Mary Shelley's novel. Halloween capital.

Medieval Ruin Explore →
Burg Münzenberg
Hesse

Burg Münzenberg

School bus schedule trap. Braunfels combo discount available.

Medieval Ruin Explore →
Braunfels Castle
Hesse

Braunfels Castle

Fairytale silhouette—still inhabited by the original family.

Medieval Castle Explore →
Schloss Drachenburg
North Rhine-Westphalia

Schloss Drachenburg

Deutschlandticket INVALID for rack railway. €100 cost delta.

Victorian Palace Explore →
Augustusburg Palace
North Rhine-Westphalia

Augustusburg Brühl

UNESCO World Heritage—Balthasar Neumann's famous staircase.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Burg Altena
North Rhine-Westphalia

Burg Altena

World's first permanent youth hostel. Elevator through the mountain.

Medieval Castle Explore →
Heidecksburg Castle
Thuringia

Heidecksburg Castle

Thuringian museum castle with Rococo festival hall.

Baroque Palace Explore →
Dornburg Palaces
Thuringia

Dornburg Palaces

Three palaces on one cliff—Goethe's favorite summer retreat.

Palace Ensemble Explore →
Kyffhäuser Monument
Thuringia

Kyffhäuser Monument

Barbarossa legend site—Germany's second-largest monument.

Historic Monument Explore →
Altenburg Castle
Thuringia

Altenburg Castle

Playing card museum—birthplace of Skat card game.

Renaissance Castle Explore →
Belvedere Palace Weimar
Thuringia

Belvedere Weimar

Rococo summer residence with historic orangery.

Rococo Palace Explore →
Schwerin Castle
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Schwerin Castle

"Neuschwanstein of the North"—island palace with Petermännchen ghost.

Romantic Historicism Explore →
Glücksburg Castle
Schleswig-Holstein

Glücksburg Castle

Denmark border—ancestral seat of European royal families.

Renaissance Water Castle Explore →
Ahrensburg Palace
Schleswig-Holstein

Ahrensburg Palace

White Renaissance water castle near Hamburg.

Renaissance Palace Explore →
Marienburg Castle
Lower Saxony

Marienburg Castle

Neo-Gothic Welfen palace—Queen Marie's private refuge.

Neo-Gothic Castle Explore →
Mespelbrunn Castle
Bavaria

Mespelbrunn Castle

Romantic water castle in Spessart forest—on the 500 DM note.

Water Castle Explore →

More Castles Coming Soon

We're adding detailed guides for all 100 German castles—each with history, architecture, and practical travel tips.

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