Germany is a country full of history and culture, which is also known worldwide for its impressive palaces and castles. The magnificent buildings bear witness to bygone times and allow visitors to immerse themselves in a bygone era. Get to know the most fairytale palaces and castles in Germany that are worth a visit.
Travel back in time – you can do that by visiting the many palaces and castles in Germany. From imposing knight’s castles to dreamlike fairytale castles, we will name the most beautiful buildings for you.
Neuschwanstein Castle
The fairytale castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria attracts tourists from all over the world: up to 1.5 million a year. Because Neuschwanstein is not only a magnificent castle in the style of a medieval knight’s castle, but also lies in a dreamlike setting: above Hohenschwangau near Füssen.
It’s no wonder that Disney took inspiration from the construction, which began in 1869, for its company logo and films.
Castle Hohenschwangau
Not only Neuschwanstein, but also Hohenschwangau Castle is one of the famous royal castles of Ludwig II. The king spent his childhood here and later used the castle as a summer residence. The castle was rebuilt in 1832 by King Maximilian II in the neo-Gothic style.
Castle Hohenzollern
Hohenzollern Castle also rises like a fairytale castle out of a dreamy landscape: on a mountain on the edge of the Swabian Jura. The ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty was first mentioned in documents in 1267.
Numerous wars destroyed it, and it was only in the 19th century that it was built in its current form in the neo-Gothic style.
Lichtenstein Castle
Also in the Swabian Alb is the so-called “fairytale castle of Württemberg”. In 2009, the historic Lichtenstein Castle was therefore also used as a backdrop for the ARD fairy tale film “Sleeping Beauty”.
The castle from 1840 is a worthy homage to the Middle Ages as the age of knight’s castles and can only be reached via a narrow bridge in the rocky landscape.
Moyland Castle
This moated castle near Bedburg-Hau in the district of Kleve was first mentioned 700 years ago. Since then, Moyland Castle has seen much destruction from wars.
In 1987 the beautiful palace complex was completely reconstructed and since 1997 it has been a museum for the private collection of modern art belonging to the van der Grinten brothers, who financed the reconstruction.
The hilltop castle of Eltz
Without a sign of the times: The hilltop castle Burg Eltz in the Elz valley in the Eifel, on the other hand, survived all the wars in the region largely unscathed. But that’s not the only reason why the 12th-century castle is worth a visit.
Because the scenery around the medieval castle is simply breathtaking. Eltz Castle is located on a rock with many hiking trails through the beautiful nature reserve.
Schwerin Castle
The imposing Schwerin Castle is located in the middle of the city and is considered one of the most important castles of Romantic Historicism in Europe. Since 1990 the building on the Castle Island has been the seat of the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Before that it was the residence of the Dukes and Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg for centuries. The history of Schwerin Castle goes back 1,000 years, but today’s magnificent building was not planned until 1845 in a major renovation based on French models in Neo-Renaissance style and gave the castle nicknames such as “Neuschwanstein of the North” or “Cinderella Castle”.
Summer residence of the Hohenzollerns in Berlin
The former summer residence of the Hohenzollerns in Berlin, Charlottenburg reflects many architectural styles. Between 1695 and 1791 the building was rebuilt in the Baroque, Rococo and Classicist styles. Above all, the magnificent rooms and the museum are impressive testimonies of a bygone era and provide insights into one of the most important dynasties of the former German high nobility.
Wartburg on the outskirts of Eisenach
The impressive castle on the outskirts of Eisenach reflects almost 1,000 years of German history. Probably one reason why the Wartburg is one of the first castles in Germany to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because like no other castle in Germany, the construction of 1067 witnessed important events – especially after 1521/1522. Because at that time Martin Luther translated part of the New Testament from Latin into German – in the Wartburg! The so-called “Lutherstube” is still open to visitors today. Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia is also closely connected to the Wartburg. So did Goethe, who often visited the Wartburg and immortalized it in a well-known drawing.
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was built in 1327 by King Ludwig IV as a customs tower. It is enthroned as an island castle on the rocky island of Falkenau in the Rhine and was never used as a residence, but only to collect the ship’s toll. In 2002 the castle became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, today it is mainly used for cultural events and art exhibitions.
Herrenhausen Palace
Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style. The manorial house grew out of a simple manor house. It was not until 1819 that Herrenhausen Palace was rebuilt in the classical architectural style by the then court architect of the Kingdom of Hanover, Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves. After the Second World War, Herrenhausen Palace was largely destroyed. It was not until 2013 that the castle could be reopened as a conference center and museum. The impressive gardens with the historical core, the Great Garden, deserve special attention. As a testament to its time, it is one of the most important baroque gardens in Europe.
Glucksburg Castle
One of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe is Schloss Glücksburg near Flensburg. Built on a former monastery complex in 1587 by Duke Johann the Younger, the historic building has hardly changed to this day. The moated castle served as the ancestral seat of the ducal family and was the temporary residence of the Danish royal family.
The castle on the Flensburg Fjord is one of the most famous sights in Schleswig-Holstein. Glücksburg Castle was named after the motto of the duke at the time: “God give happiness with peace”. The castle with a museum is open to visitors and also offers a chapel for civil weddings.
Marienburg Castle
Marienburg Castle was a gift from King George V of Hanover to his wife Marie. The king had the neo-Gothic palace built between 1858 and 1867, but unfortunately the family was never able to move into the magnificent house together. The Prussians forced the king into exile in Austria before the palace was completed. His wife followed him a year later.
Castle complex Cochem
The castle complex of Cochem is enthroned on a mountain above the Rhineland-Palatinate town of the same name on the Moselle. The building was probably erected around 1100 as a customs castle. In the 17th century, however, the medieval summit or hilltop castle was destroyed and rebuilt about a hundred years later in the neo-Gothic style of castle romanticism.
Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle is indisputably one of the most famous buildings in Germany. As the city’s landmark, the castle ruins tower over the cityscape and attract many visitors from abroad. The castle was badly damaged, especially during the Palatinate War of Succession at the end of the 17th century. Previously it was the residence of the Electors Palatinate. After the destruction, the castle in Heidelberg was only partially rebuilt. A lightning fire in 1764 caused restoration to be halted altogether. Especially in the Romantic period, the ruins became the ideal image of this transfigured epoch and are still one of the most visited tourist sights in Europe.
Wilhelmshöhe Palace
The classical Wilhelmshöhe Palace and the knight’s castle above in the mountain park were commissioned by Elector Wilhelm I around 1790. The palace is currently best known as a museum, which houses the collection of antiquities and the Old Masters Picture Gallery, among other things. Adjacent is a ballhouse and greenhouse.
Castle ruins Löwenburg
The Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with the castle and the medieval castle ruins Löwenburg was created in the 17th century under Landgrave Carl and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2013. The well-known statue of Hercules (picture) as a landmark of the city of Kassel is also located in the 560-hectare baroque complex.