Travel to Germany

The castle Neuschwanstein is one of the most famous palaces ever created. It is located in southern Germany, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany. Germany is known for their cold winters and mild summers, but the Republic of Germany has a rich history too. It dates back thousands of years to the Germanic tribes that lived in the region during the Roman Empire. In more recent times, Germany saw the completion of several castles during the 19th century. While Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous castle in Germany, there are other castles you can visit too.
 

Dachau Palace: This castle was first established around the year 1100 in the German state of Bavaria. It was occupied by the Count of Dachau until 1182 when the last count died. The original castle was demolished in the late 1300s. In the 1500s, Duke of Bavaria William IV and Albert V ordered a new castle to be built at the same site. The castle was completed in 1577. It was occupied by the rulers of Bavaria for hundreds of years. Today, it is open for public viewing, and it also hosts public events throughout the year.

Schloss Hexenagger: Unlike the castle Neuschwanstein, this castle is not open to public viewing on a regular basis. It is open for public events at select times of the year. It has been mentioned in historical documents dating back to 982. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years War of the 1600s, and then it was rebuilt. Today the castle is privately owned, and visitors can see it during special events throughout the year.

Linderhof Palace: King Ludwig II never got to see the completion of castle Neuschwanstein, but he did get to see the completion of Linderhof Palace. As luck would have it, the Linderhof Palace was the only one of the castles that King Ludwig II saw to completion. It is smaller than some of the other castles, but it is still a site to behold! The castle was very private, and only a handful of rooms of the palace had any real function.

Neuschwanstein Castle: This is easily the most famous castle in Germany. Tourists who come to tour the palaces of Europe always make the castle Neuschwanstein part of their travel plans. Millions of visitors come to the castle every year to see the magnificent architecture and vibrant colors included inside the castle. It was never finished before King Ludwig died, but he did stay here for the last couple years of his life. This magnificent palace is open to the public daily.

Be sure to check out the castle Neuschwanstein and the other castles when you plan your European holiday. International travelers need to make sure to book their tickets ahead of time. If you are visiting in the winter months, you should plan to go skiing at the Zugspitze mountain. During the summer months, there are many hiking trails you can walk. For the best accommodations, be sure to check out the awesome füssen hotels and resorts directly in the city of Füssen.

Germany is one of those countries which you can only discover if you spend lots of time exploring its landscape, its culture, its cuisine and its people. There are so many things to be done and seen in this great country that you will need moths or maybe even years to cover all the touristic attractions from Germany. However, there are very few people who can afford the luxury of spending more than a week or two in vacation. If you have only a limited time to see Germany you should definitely make some time in your schedule for its castles. Situated in some of the most beautiful areas in Germany and built with so much style and elegance, these castles will leave you breathless the moment you will see them.

Burg Eltz Castle

Burg Eltz Castle is one of Germany's best preserved castles. Built in the medieval period, the first written attestation of Burg Eltz dates back from 1157 and from then on the only family in whose administration this castle was is the Eltz family. Even nowadays, a third of the castle is not opened to public as it is the residence of the Eltz family. Only two thirds of the castle can be visited, yet they really worth the effort. You will see here wonderful frescoes, old furniture, paintings and art, beautifully decorated rooms in a style that has passed the proof of time.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

Another great and extremely famous castle, even not that old is Schloss Neuschwanstein. This castle's construction began in 1869, under the reign of King Ludwig II. He wanted an elegant, almost extravagant castle which will fully have its signature on it. It is said that there were no less than 14 carpenters who have worked on the king's bedroom and it took them about 4 years and a half to complete it. Unfortunately, many rooms were left unfinished when King Ludwig II was removed from the throne. However, what has been done is a work of art that deserves all our admiration and appreciation.

This castle is not only famous for its great tapestry, its works of art or its design, but also for the fact that it has served as model for the famous Disney castle from Disneyland. Thus, if you want to see the original, you should not miss this castle!

Frankenstein Castle

If you loved the famous story of Frankenstein, then you may also want to see where it all began. The Frankenstein castle, situated in Damstedt not far from Frankfurt, this castle served as inspiration for Mary Shelly's novel. There are all kinds of legends circulating about this castle and it would be quite interesting to hear what things have taken place inside the now ruined castle.

There are plenty other castles which will require your attention while in Germany. Yet, if your time is quite limited, try to see at least these ones. You will definitely return for more whenever you have the chance.

If you like castles, you'll love Germany, for Germany has castles the way Venice has canals, or Norway has fjords, or the Napa Valley has wineries. There are literally scores of them, virtually in every German state and seemingly on every other hilltop, especially along the river Rhine. There are schlosses (which are essentially castles or palaces) and there are burgs (castles or fortresses); and then there are festungs (quite simply, fortresses).

Here are ten of the most famous German castles, the must-sees, the "great castles" of Germany.

Burg Eltz

At the top of the list is Burg Eltz, one of Germany's most beautiful medieval castles, 850 years old and unscathed! It is located in the lower Mosel Valley, high above the Rhine. Although still family owned and occupied, it can be seen on guided tours for 6 euros a pop. And it's well worth it, for you'll get a peek at not only the original period furniture and decor, but you'll also get to see 20 flushable toilets that supposedly date back to the 15th century!

Meersburg Alte Burg

Another famous 'burg' is the Meersburg Alte Burg, located in the scenic Black Forest area in Baden-Wurttemberg. It dates from the seventh century and offers superb views out to the Bodensee. This is also the oldest of Germany's castles that is inhabitable. A Merovingian king, Dagoberth, originally started it, and it then served as the residence of the bishop of Konstanz for decades. For 8 euros you can meander through 30 rooms of the castle, including the chambers used by the famous 19th-century German poet, Annette von Droste-Hulshoff.

The Wartburg

The Wartburg, situated just outside Eisenach in the Thuringia region, is considered to be the most German of the German castles. It was here that Martin Luther translated the New Testament from Greek into German while in hiding. The castle is open to public tours for 5 euros per head.

The Marksburg

This one, the Marksburg, is perched on a hill on the shores of the Rhine, high above the town of Braubach in the Rhine Valley. And make no mistake, this is not just another 19th century imitation - and yes, there are several of those in Germany! - this is the real thing, boasting one of the most impressive armory collections anywhere, including one of the oldest cannons in Germany. And for 4.50 euros you can see it all on a guided tour.

Schloss Sanssouci

Here's a castle that's hard to miss, Schloss Sanssouci. It is centrally located in Potsdam in the Brandenberg region, not far from Berlin, and is a genuine masterpiece from the Baroque period. What's more, it has its associations with Frederick the Great. It was in this small but lively summer palace that the sovereign entertained the thinkers and musicians of his time, notable among them Voltaire. The Rococco residence can be toured for 8 euros apiece, albeit with German-only commentary.

Schloss Braunfels

Schloss Braunfels is an 800-year-old palace located in the Hesse region's Lahn Valley. While well worth visiting, the unfortunate thing about it is that it was rebuilt in the 19th century in the Neo-Gothic style. But don't let that deter you. A guided tour of the castle's interior is a realtime romp through rooms filled to the gills with medieval weaponry, porcelain, and paintings. And it's only 4 euros for the tour.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

And then there's Schloss Neuschwanstein, perhaps the most picturesque, the most recognizable of Germany's great castles. In fact, this is the one that inspired the magical castle at Disneyland, the one with interiors that resemble scenes from Wagnerian operas. Set on a hill in an alpine setting in Schwangau, along Northern Bavaria's Romantic Road, the castle follows a distinctly Romanesque style. It was built between 1869 and 1886 and was the ultimate fantasy of the Mad King Ludwig. Public tours of it are 9 euros each, not cheap, but worth it.

Festung Konigstein

Festung Konigstein, located near Dresden in the Saxony region, is easily the largest fortress in Germany, and a triumph, if ever there was one, of fortress construction in Europe. Now more than 750 years old, it represents a confluence of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century architecture. During world War II, it housed senior French prisoners of war as well as Dresden's best artworks. Guided tours of the fortress and its grounds are available year-round for 6 euros.

The Residenz

The Residenz, the principle address of the ruling Wittelsbach family for over 500 years, is located in Munich, Bavaria. It is a massive complex, lavishly decorated, constructed between 1720 and 1744 by Balthasar Neumann for the bishops of Wurzburg. It is also one of the finest Baroque palaces in Europe and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. And it's 4 euros for a guided tour.

Schloss Heidelberg

Schloss Heidelberg, located in Heidelberg of course, in the Baden-Wurtemberg region, is easily Germany's most famous ruin, and possibly also one of its most romantic sights. For five centuries the principle residence of the Prince Electors of the Kurpfalz, it was destroyed by the French in the 17th century but continues to dominate Heidelberg's skyline. Photograph this, if only for the memories and the joy of it!

Germany lies in the centre of Europe and is the ideal place for a fly-drive holiday. With distinct regions throughout the country it offers tourists with a hire car the chance to drive the autobahns and sample much of the culture. The cities of Germany vary from old world elegance to domineering modernism, with a history so rich in culture and events there is little surprise that Germany is as fascinating as it is beautiful.

The road network in Germany has long been heralded as one of the best in the world, mainly due its liberal approach to speed limits. When in a hire car do not however get carried away on the autobahns; surprisingly only a limited amount of the network has no speed limit and penalties are often harsh for law breakers.

There are also rules that must be followed that are different from other nations, especially when letting other cars past. Using a hire car to experience the autobahn system can be fun, but remember the stress of performance sports cars belting past you at high speed is not always enjoyable. Traffic jams can also be a problem; my advice is to use the autobahns minimally and use country roads as much as possible.

The nature of Germany is as diverse as its history, the swathes of deep forest offer those who like the serene accompaniment of the countryside a tranquil existence. The use of a hire car when touring these forests is highly advisable as they are spread apart and the facilities in national parks are perfect for visitors travellng by car. With over ninety nature reserves within Germany, nature lovers will be spoilt for choice.

If entering the south Munich, Freiburg and Passau are the main gateways and picking up a hire car from any of these airports brings Bavaria into focus. The Bavarian people are warm and hospitable and love to party. Visitors will enjoy the wide variety of beers and historical beer halls that are found in nearly all towns. Munich annually hosts the Oktoberfest festival which sees huge amounts of people descend on the city for drinking and revelry. If a fan of good beer and good company Oktoberfest is a must, although it may be wise to leave the hire car at home.

Due to the German history of castle building, there are hundreds of examples of castles throughout the country. Making a road trip of these in your hire car is a perfect romantic getaway; especially as many now offer accommodation. Ranging across a variety of epochs each castle in Germany has its own distinct charm and appeal. Some resemble the castles of a fairytale while others are clearly evidence of Germany's military past. Many illustrate the opulence of Germany during the latter modern period and would most likely be called palaces rather than castles.

In Germany the motor industry is heavily developed with some of the most recognizable names in the entire world. The country reflects this love of the car with a host of museums linked to such powerhouses as BMW, Mercedes, VW and Porsche. There are even excursions that will allow the hire of a high performance car to experience the many racetracks. Of these racetracks, the Nurburgring is probably the most notorious and is definitely worth an excursion for anyone who considers themselves a car enthusiast.

There is no doubt that Germany as a destination is well worth a visit. Whether it is to sample the beer and cuisine, or just drive around in a hire car visiting the fabulous castles there is something for everyone. As the country that invented the motor car, enthusiasts will be fascinated by the motoring history and will most probably enjoy the race tracks. Just remember to take car on the autobahns.