The Most Famous Castles in Germany

By: Leah Shoup

Neuschwanstein Castle

This fairy tale castle, built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions and one of the best day trips from Munich.

Burg Eltz

Eltz Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Germany and has been an ancestral home to the same family since the 12th century.

Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern, located on top of Mount Hohenzollern in South Germany, is one of the best German castles, welcoming over 350,000 visitors annually.

Lichtenstein Castle

This 19th century castle built in the Swabian Jura mountain range is more of a hidden gem, nicknamed “the fairy tale castle of Württemberg”.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This palace is located in the same town as Neuschwanstein Castle. Hohenschwangau served as a summer palace and hunting residence.

Heidelberg Castle

Schloss Heidelberg is one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, dating back to the 13th century.

Schwerin Castle 

This castle is widely considered an important example of the romantic Historicist architectural style in Europe.

Wartburg Castle

Wartburg Castle was the first German castle to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best medieval castles in Germany.

Wernigerode Castle

This German fairy tale castle was built in a Neo-Romantic style known as historicism–similar to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle.