10 Most Beautiful Castles in Germany

We've all fantasied about being royal, and there's no shame in admitting it. Rather than kissing frogs or hoping for a foreign king to take you away in married bliss, make your own ‘happily ever after’ and if you intend to add a sense of grandeur to it, consider visiting the many magnificent castles that Deutschland is home to. For those who love history, these sites are no less than adventure places in Germany that have astonishing, paintings, furniture, and weaponry which account for this European nation’s valuables.

Germany is home to some of Europe's most beautiful and well-known castles but which ones to add to your itinerary can be a bit tricky. Well, worry not for we've whittled down the country’s greatest castles for you to visit: -

1. Schwerin Castle

Schwerin Castle is located on an island in Schwerin's major lake, where a castle was said to have stood as early as the 10th century.

Schwerin Castle, which is bordered by lakes and woods, is made up of a number of turrets with golden domes and gleaming pinnacles. The architectural structure of the castle is widely acclaimed, and its meticulous attention to detail has made Schwerin Castle one of Europe's most important architectural masterpieces of the romantic historicism era and one of the must-visit places in Germany.

Take a stroll through this famous German castle's lovely garden and marvel at the charming arrangement of parkways, flower beds, and statues in the orangery. Schwerin Castle's grounds, regarded as one of the most magnificent baroque gardens in northern Germany, combine aspects of English scenery, Italian architecture, and French design.

Timings - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (timings may differ during the winter season)

2. Nueschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein castle in Germany, designed as a dream refuge from the world by King Ludwig of Bavaria, combines myth, romantic literature, epic opera, and Teutonic chivalry in its architectural and artistic palette.  Also known as the Bavaria castle and the  Cinderella castle in Germany, this fairy-tale castle, nestled among the stunning majesty of the Bavarian Alps near the town of Fussen, served as the inspiration for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. The crown gem of Europe's fairytale castles in Germany, Neuschwanstein, lies nestled on the edge of the Alps south of Munich.

Timings - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm from April-October and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from October end-March

3. Meersburg Castle 

One of the oldest castles in Germany, Meersburg Castle, perched high above Lake Constance, is a stone relic of mediaeval times and Germany's oldest inhabited fortification. Visitors may experience the enchantment of bygone days as soon as they pass the historic drawbridge, which is resurrected on a tour of the museum's old pathways and various chambers such as the great hall, living quarters, water chamber, armoury, knights' hall, castle dungeon, and many more. It is one of the best castles which you should definitely include in your Germany tour package.

Timings - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

4. Eltz Castle

Eltz Castle in Germany will fulfil your children's yearning to visit a true fairy tale castle. It not only looks the part, with its towers and entrance through a small bridge, but the location is ideal, perched on a 70-meter-high rock outcrop surrounded by lush woodland. Burg Eltz stands out against the wooded mountainside with its soaring stone walls and towers, pointed turrets, steeply pitched roofs, and red half-timbering.

The Kempenich family has held the castle from its inception in the 12th century, and it has been meticulously preserved and repaired, with stunning interiors and most of its original furniture. It is one of the greatest examples of a mediaeval castle in Germany.

Timings - 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

5. Nuremberg Castle

Nuremberg's Old Town is dominated by its castle, a stronghold that is one of Europe's most important remaining mediaeval fortifications. Nurnberger Burg is home to German monarchs and emperors for more than 500 years, which retains much of its original appearance, despite significant damage in World War II and post-war restoration. It was first recognised as royal property in 1050 and became an important site of royal activities and Imperial Diets throughout the Holy Roman Empire and subsequent monarchs.

Timings - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

6. Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern Castle, located at the top of Mount Hohenzollern in southwest Germany, was erected in the mid-nineteenth century over the remains of two previous castles. The entryway is designed in a military manner, while the palatial portion is designed in a Gothic Revival style. The interior design and ornamentation are exquisite, and the vistas of the surrounding districts are just magnificent. With approximately 350,000 tourists each year, Hohenzollern Castle is one of Germany's most visited castles.

Timings - 10:00 am - 5:30 pm

7. Lichtenstein Castle

Lichtenstein Castle is a beautiful hunting castle located an hour south of Stuttgart that provides spectacular views of the Echaz Valley and the Swabian Alps.

Lichtenstein Castle and its neo-Gothic architecture are nothing short of a magnificent tribute to the Middle Ages, with remarkable attention to detail. Despite the fact that Germany has a plethora of castles, this castle is extremely popular with German tourists.

Timings - 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

8. Cochem Castle

The Imperial Castle in Cochem is much more than a fortress! The ancient walls, which throne magnificently over the Mosel River valley, invite every history and culture enthusiast to spend a wonderful afternoon in one of the Mosel River's tallest hill castles.

Every year, mediaeval performers, artists, and a variety of other folks await visitors to the castle festival. The castle's majestic and old walls provide a one-of-a-kind background for rustic merchants and stunning stages where guests are encouraged to participate in a bustling market during the Middle Ages. Various modern artists display their handiwork, while mead, wine, and delicious grilled meats will satisfy the hunger. Guests of all ages will be delighted by mediaeval performance troupes and troubadours playing ancient instruments.

Timings - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

9. Wartburg Castle

One of the most visited castles in Germany, Wartburg Castle fits in beautifully with its surroundings and is sometimes referred to as "the ideal castle." Although some original parts from the mediaeval period have been preserved, the form it took during the 19th-century reconstruction offers a decent sense of what this stronghold may have looked like at the height of its military and seigneurial strength. Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German during his exile at Wartburg Castle.

Timings - 9:30 am to 6:00 pm

10. Moritzburg Castle

The beautiful Baroque Castle of Moritzburg lies beneath the pointed domes, with wonderfully framed windows and an amazing surrounding landscape with lake and woodlands, in Moritzburg, Saxony, near Dresden city, Germany. The architectural flair of a late 16th Century from the Baroque region bursting murals and illustrations, various architectural components, decorations, distinctive façade, with four towers completely symmetrical and an outstanding view of lake and woodland, makes the attraction an especially attractive visit for everybody.

Timings - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

You haven't truly experienced Europe unless you've seen a castle or two, and Germany certainly has its fair share of gorgeous, iconic castles. Choose from our list of the greatest castles in Germany to kickstart your own imperial adventure.