Germany is home to some of the best and most beautiful fairytale castles in Europe. It’s not surprising that these stunning castles have been drawing people in from all over the world. Visiting them feels like stepping back in time and some of these medieval castles still belong to the original families!
When planning a trip to Germany it can be pretty intimidating to find the best castles to visit. With over 1000 of them spread throughout entire Germany it can be hard to figure out which ones you absolutely must see.
That’s why I wrote this guide for you! Since I live in Belgium I spend a lot of my weekends exploring Germany and one of my favourite things to do is find the most beautiful castles. This list will consist of the most famous fairytale castles in Germany that you have to visit and also a couple of hidden gems!
By the way, did you know that Burg means castle and Schloss means palace? ABurgis a fortress (acastledesigned for defense in battle, also called eine Festung) and aSchlossis a palace – designed more as a residence. Now you can impress your friends and relatives with that piece ofknowledge ;)!
1. Burg Eltz
Burg Eltz is one of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany and my personal favourite! So far I have visited this stunning place 3 times and it will probably be the first place I visit once the borders open again!
Burg Eltz is located in Wierschem and looks like it got transported straight out of a Disney movie. What sets it apart from a lot of other castles in Germany is that it isn’t set on top of a hilltop. Instead Burg Eltz is nestled in a beautiful valley and surround by the Eltz forest.
Currently, the castle is owned and maintained by the 33rd generation of the Eltz family. It’s one of the only castles that escaped destruction during World War II and can be seen in it’s original glory.
There is a big parking lot for visitors near Burg Eltz and from here you can access the castle from 2 ways. You can take the foot path through the woods or you can pass the chapel at the end of the parking lot and walk down the winding road. This way you will also come across a beautiful look out point of this amazing castle.
Opening hours– 9am – 5pm (from end of March to early November)
Entrance– €10
You can only visit the castle with a guided tour. Most of the tours are in German and start every 15 minutes. There are some tours available in English and French but these are less frequent. You can’t take photos inside the castle.
2. Schloss Drachenburg
Would you believe me if I told you that this beautiful castle in Germany actually is a private villa? Schloss Drachenburg was built in the 19th century and is located inKönigswinter, only 30 minutes driving from Cologne.
There is a beautiful park surrounding the castle which is perfect to take a nice stroll in the afternoon.
Now wouldn’t it be nice if this castle would be for sale? :D
Opening hours– 11am to 6pm
Entrance– €7
3. Schloss Schwetzingen
Did you know there is a beautiful pink palace near Heidelberg? Well for several centuries Schwetzingen Palace served as a summer residence and hunting palace.
The palace is surrounded by a huge garden where you can find temples dedicated to the Ancient Greek gods, an orangery and a huge pink mosque. These so called ‘garden mosques” were very popular in the 18th century. By building a mosque kings and dukes wanted to show their enlightenment, tolerance, and cosmopolitanism.
But in reality this mosque was never used for any religious cause but for meetings with foreign diplomats.
The Palace can only be viewed as part of a guided tour in either German or English. The gardens however can be visited without a guide and are a must visit during Spring since it’s lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees.
Opening hours – 9am to 8pm (only 5pm during Fall and Winter)
Entrance – A guided tour through the Schwetzingen Palace is €10. You can choose to only visit the gardens for €7.
4. Burg Moyland
Moyland Castle is a moated castle near the Dutch border. Its name comes from the Dutch expression ‘Mooi Land’ which means beautiful country. Ever since 1307 this fairy tale castle was within the possession of several families.
Until in1990 when the Castle Moyland Museum Foundation was formed. The castle buildings now house the art collection of the brothers van der Grinten, collected over 50 years.
In 2011 the castle reopened it’s doors after renovations and now most of the museum is devoted to the Beuys collection, with space for special exhibitions and cultural events.
Opening hours – 10am to 6pm
Entrance – €7
5. Schloss Mespelbrunn
This is probably one of the lesser known castles in Germany but one that should definitely be on your list! Another good reason to visit besides its beauty and originality is that there will be a lot less tourists here compared to other beautiful castles in Germany.
Mespelbrunn castle isa moated castlelocated between Frankfurt and Würzburg. It is privately owned and the owners are currently still living here. They now live in the southern part of the castle and have opened up the main rooms to the public for visiting.
Mespelbrunn castle was built in the 15th century but the only original part that still stands until this day is the tower.
You can only visit the castle by a guided tour and photography inside the castle is strictly forbidden.
Opening hours– 9am to 5pm
Entrance fee– €5
6. Burg Vischering
Vischering Castle is another typical moated castle in the Münster region in Germany (I see a pattern here…). Did you know that this region has one of the highest concentrations of castles, palaces and fortifications?
In 1521 the castle was destroyed by a fire but was completely rebuild afterwards. Luckily it was mostly spared during World War II and now the castle houses the houses the Münsterlandmuseum, an exhibit on knighthood for children, a café and a restaurant.
Opening hours – 10am to 6pm (closed on Monday)
Entrance – The entrance fee for Vischering Castle totally depends on what you want to do and see. You can visit the outer bay for €3,5 or you can combine it with a visit to the castle for €7,5.
This is one of the castles were you don’t need an actual guided tour to visit the interior. There are guided tours available but they are rather expensive.
7. Schloss Schwerin
Schwerin Castle is a beautiful castle located in Schwerin in the North of Germany. The first records of this castle date from AD 973. However the first fort was destroyed in 1160 however the German conquerors recognised the strategic interesting location of the island and started building a new fort.
During the Renaissance the fort underwent important changes. The fort became a palace, and the defensive functionality of the fortress was replaced with decorations and more attention to comfort.
The castle later became a museum and in 1948 the seat of the state parliament. Since then there have been massive preservation and renovation efforts which were finished by 2019.
Opening hours – 10am to 6pm (closed on Monday)
Entrance – €6
8. Flatow Tower in Babelsberg
Okay, so this one isn’t technically a castle but it’s absolutely one of the most beautiful places in Germany. But come on… how can you not get Rapunzel vibes when you see this tower? That’s why I still wanted to include it in this guide of the best and most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany. This tower is a true hidden gem that not many people know of!
Before the Flatow Tower graced the green hills at Potsdam there used to be a windmill which burnt down in 1848.
Opening hours – 10am to 5.30pm (on Saturday and Sunday from May until the end of October)
Entrance – €4
9. Burg Cochem
Reichsburg Cochem is located in the beautiful little town of Cochem. If you are doing a road trip through Germany you have to add this place to your list! This stunning castle was built around the year 1000 and the French Sun King’s troops almost completely destroyed the town of Cochem.
The castle remained in ruins until 1868. Shortly after a Berlin business man bought the grounds and he began to rebuild the castle incorporating the remains of the late Gothic buildings into the main castle structure. Since 1978 the castle has been owned by the town of Cochem
Burg Cochem can be seen while driving alongside the Mosel since it’s perched on top of a hill overlooking the Mosel valley.
Opening hours – 9am to 5pm
Entrance – €7
10. Schloss Stolzenfels
Stolzenfels Castle is a famous castle in Germany, located in Koblenz and is the epitome of Rhine Romanticism. It used to be a medieval fortress and was later on turned into a palace. Today this castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After the First World War, the castle became property of the state. After a lot of renovation work the castle and its parks were reopened in 2011 and the castle is now open to the public. The walk to the castle takes approx. 20 minutes through the landscape gardens
Opening hours – 10am to 6pm (closed on Monday, Thursday and Friday)
Entrance – €4
11. Burg Teck
Teck Castle, also known as Schloss Kirchheim is a stunning castle in the German state ofBaden-Württemberg, near Stuttgart. It was first mentioned in a document in 1152 and is situated 775 metres above sea-level. Teck Castle was most likely built by Konrad von Zähringen, who called himself the “Duke of Teck”. It was in the possession of the Teck Dukes until 1381, after which it belonged to the Württemberg reign. Burg Teck has its place in modern day royalty: Queen Elizabeth II is the great grand-daughter of Duke Francis of Teck.
Today, Burg Teck is a youth hostel and restaurant, which was converted in 1953. The hostel can accommodate up to 20 people for an overnight stay. The restaurant is very nice and there is plenty of outdoor seating.
A more than 3km-long path leads to the Teck Castle which offers views of the entire valley. It is said that on a good, clear day you can see all the way to the Black Forest.
12. Burg Hohenzollern – one of the most beautiful castles in Germany
Hohenzollern Castle is in the South of Germany and pretty close to the Black Forest. The castle is still privately owned by the Royal Family and when they’re at home, their flag flies on the flag tower.
The stunning fortress offers a majestic panoramic view stretching over more than 100 km. Burg Hohenzollern is one of the most popular castles in Germany with over 300.000 visitors each year.
In the 15th century, the first Hohenzollern Castle was destroyed by war, but was rebuilt soon afterwards. In the 18th century, the fortress was deserted and fell into ruin. It was King Frederick William IV of Prussia who had his family’s ancestral home reconstructed in its present form in the 19th century but even larger and more magnificent than before.
Since 1952, the castle has been filled with art and historical artefacts from the collections of the Hohenzollern family.
Opening hours – 10am to 5.30pm
Entrance – €7, without a tour
13. Schloss Lichtenstein
Even though it’s name might make you think otherwise, Lichtenstein castle is actually located in Germanynear Stuttgart. This modern castle was inspired by the novel Lichtenstein by Wilhelm Hauff, but could also serve as Rapunzel’s tower castle!
There is a huge domain surrounding the castle anda nice restaurantto enjoy a lunch after your visit.
Fun fact– Lichtenstein Castle actually has two nicknames! The first one is Neuschwanstein’s little brother, the other is theFairytale Castle of Baden-Württemberg.
So far this castle isn’t on the radar of most international tourists, which also means that the guided tour is only available in German.
Opening hours– 9am to 5.30pm
Entrance– €2 to enter the courtyard / €8 guided tour of the castle / €2 parking
14. Burg Rheinstein
The Rheinstein Castle is located inTrechtingshausenand also serves as a hotel and used to be a knight’s watch castle above the Rhine. And no, sadly I did not encounter Jon Snow on his knight’s watch during my visit!
Opening hours– 10am to 5pm
Entrance– €4.5
Photography tip– The most beautiful viewpoint can be found a short walk from the castle. To get here you have to hike up to the castle and instead of turning left and going through the gates you turn right. Simply follow the pathway that goes up behind the castle and you will arrive at a small lookout tower.
15. Schloss Herrenchiemsee
Schloss Herrenchiemsee, also known as the Bavarian Versailles, was built by King Ludwig IIof Bavaria in 1878. He wanted to create a palace on Herreninsel island in Chiemsee lake that matched the grandeur of the palace of Versailles in France.
Just like all of the other palaces belonging to Ludwig II of Bavaria, Schloss Herrenchiemsee was not designed to become a seat of government, nor would it be home to the royal court. The palace was built solely as a private residence for the reclusive king, who wanted to use it as a retreat from public life. However, the Bavarian king ended up spending just ten or so days at Schloss Herrenchiemsee in the summer of 1885.
Furthermore, the building project was never fully completed as the king then died under tragic circumstances in the summer of 1886.
Opening hours – 9am to 6pm
Entrance – €9
16. Schloss Hohenschwangau
So remember King Ludwig II of Bavaria? Well his father Crown Prince Maximilian II of Bavaria had the ruined castle of Schwanstein rebuilt from 1832 into the Hohenschwangau Castle.
The young Ludwig was influenced by the romantic mountain scenery and this summer castle became one of his favourite places to stay. It is here that he got the idea for one of Germany’s most famous castles.
You can not park at the castle Hohenschwangau. Park your car at parking lot P4 in Hohenschwangau. From here you walk uphill to the castle in 20 minutes.
Opening hours – 9am to 5pm
Entrance – €13
17. Schloss Neuschwanstein
As last, but certainly not least, the world famous Neuschwanstein castle. This fairytale castle in Germany had been on my bucket list for years and last year I finally had the chance to see it for myself. And it did not disappoint!
The construction of the idyllic castle was started in 1869 on behalf of the shy and eccentricKing Ludwig II, who had this castle built to escape public life. After his passing in 1886 the construction was paused and the fairytale castle was opened to the public. Walt Disney visited this castle and used it as inspiration for thecastle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland.
Opening hours– 9am to 6pm
Entrance fee– €12
The castle can only be visited with a guided tour andphotography inside is forbidden.
HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER GERMANY BLOGS?
- 21 Hidden Gems in Germany
- The perfect 2 week road trip through Germany, Austria and Italy
- The Best Day Trips from Berchtesgaden
- The Perfect Visit to Königssee
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Charlotte
Charlotte Lint is the founder, main photographer and writer of Charlies Wanderings.
She has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing insightful hiking guides and creating unique and efficient travel itineraries.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.
