After spending the last two years exploring the temples of Asia, it's been fun to switch gears and explore the historic castles of Germany. With over 25,000 castles and palaces in Germany, six seems like such a small number, but these six German castles are worth a visit and are popular destinations for good reason.

1) Burg Eltz, or Eltz Castle

I recently made an overnight trip to Burg Eltz and Cochem Castle, which were well worth the drive from Stuttgart. Eltz Castle has origins back to 1157 when the first mention of the name Eltz was found in historical documents; it was built to secure trade routes between Mosel and Eifel. Building the Castle on a giant rock surrounded by the Eltz River and the forest ensured the family had ample food and natural resources to survive. For over thirty generations, Eltz Castle has been the family home of the Lords and Counts of Eltz, and the family still resides there part-time.

Admission: April 1 to November 1 from 9:30 to 17:30

Adults: €14 includes a guided tour and visit to the Treasure Chamber

Children: (6+)/Students/Disabled: €7

Family Ticket: €34 (includes two adults with more children under 18)

Parking: €4

Shuttle to Castle: €2

2) Schloss Lichtenstein

Lichtenstein is a fascinating castle built on the remnants of an old medieval fortress-turned-hunting lodge. Paying homage to the Middle Ages, Count Wilhelm of Württemberg, Duke of Urach, constructed the Castle based on the novel Lichtenstein. The Count furnished the Castle himself, and it was inaugurated in 1842 with the King in attendance. During the tour, it was crazy to see a large golden mirror with a massive crack caused by a stray Allied Forces bullet during World War II.

Admission: November-March, 10-16:00, April-October 9-17:30. Closed January & February

Adults: €12 includes a guided tour in German. An English pamphlet is provided to follow along. You can only go inside the castle on a guided tour every 20 minutes.

Children: (6-16) €6

3) Cochem Castle

Cochem was first mentioned in a historical document in 1051, and historians guess the original Castle was built around 1000. In 1151, the Castle was occupied in a feud by King Konrad III, marking the change to an imperial castle. Fast forward another few hundred years, the Castle was again occupied in 1688 by troops of King Louis XIV and eventually set on fire and blown up.

In 1867, Dr. Louis Ferdinand Ravené applied to buy and rebuild the ruins. In 1868, the Prussian King authorized the sale with four conditions to be met.

1) Preservation would be completed on the standing ruins according to historical parameters

2) The building plans had to have authorization from the Minister of Science & Culture

3) Part of the Castle had to be open to the public

4) Pre-emption right of the state

Reconstruction began in 1871, and in 1877, the Castle was inaugurated with a celebration in the knight's hall. You can still participate in the celebration on weekends and at special events during Christmas. Cochem Castle, with its stunning views overlooking the Moselle and fascinating history, is not to be missed. It's lovely when the lights come on at dusk, making it a beacon on a hill.

Admission: March 16 to November 1 from 9:00 to 17:00, November 2 to December 23 from 10:00 to 15:00. Check the website for winter hours starting in January. Access to the Castle and grounds is only available by booking a guided 40-minute tour; tickets must be purchased on-site, except for special events.

Access: There is no parking at the Castle, and the easiest way to get there by car is to park at the bottom of the hill in town and hike up. I parked under the bridge, a 15-minute walk from that lot. You can also access the Castle via the Reichsburg Shuttle Bus, line 701.

4) Hohenzollern Castle

Burg Hohenzollern was first mentioned in 1267, with mention of the Hohenzollern House dating back to 1061. It was hailed as "The Crown of all Castles in Swabia" and "the most fortified House in Germany." Despite this high praise, the Castle was destroyed in 1423. Construction on the second Hohenzollern Castle began in 1454, and during the Thirty Years War, it was converted into a fortress. Through a constant change of ownership, the Castle was eventually neglected and turned into ruins until 1819, when Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia decided to have it reconstructed. Reconstruction began in 1850, crafting the Castle complexes in a neo-Gothic style.

In 1952, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia furnished the Castle with valuable works of art, all of which had ties to the history of Prussia and its Kings. Two earthquakes in 1970 and 1978 caused significant damage to the Castle. An admission fee was started to cover the repairs, preservation, and maintenance costs to tour the Castle and grounds.

*Royal Winter Magic at Burg Hohenzollern*

Today, you can view Hohenzollern Castle in almost pristine condition. At Christmastime, they host the Royal Winter Magic, and it's your chance to see the Castle decorated for Christmas and enjoy refreshments in one of the decorated huts outside.

Admission: Their hours change by the season. Visit their website for current times.

Parking: There are several lots on site, with some being a bit of a walk (the later in the day you arrive the more they fill up).

Adults: €11, children 12-17 €5, children 11 and under free

Note: You can choose to hike up to the castle which takes about 15 minutes. They also offer a shuttle bus that picks up near the ticket office. Sometimes it can be quite slow, so walking is usually the better option.

5) Heidelburg Castle

Heidelberg Castle is nestled on the top of the hill, with incredible views looking down over the historic part of the city. These magnificent castle ruins attract roughly one million visitors each year. Some parts of the Castle were initially constructed in the 13th century. In the late 17th century, the French repeatedly attacked and destroyed the Castle. Some partial repairs were made, but in 1764, the Castle was again devastated, this time by Mother Nature when it was struck by lightning and left in ruins.

Historic preservation began in the late 19th century when Freidrich's Wing was rebuilt based on old designs. When you visit the Castle today, you walk through this preservation and reconstruction. One fun thing to see is the giant wine barrel. Around 1764, the third iteration of the Heidelberg Tun was constructed, and it holds 220,000 liters of wine. Historians guess a platform above the barrel was used as a dance floor.

Admission: 9-18:00, 7 days a week. Specific interiors are only available on a guided tour. See their website for tour times.

Adults: €11, €5.50 reduced ticket

Guided Tour: Additional €6

Parking: The closest parking garage is the Parkhaus Kornmarkt (P12) station, where you can walk up to the Castle or ride the funicular (included in the ticket price). There is also some street parking along the road if you come into Heidelberg from behind at the top of the castle. **Of note, the funicular will be closed for annual inspection until March 28, 2025, but shuttle buses will be available from the Kornmarkt station.

6) Neuschwanstein Castle

*Neuschwanstein Castle in 2012 (it was under renovation)*

If you haven't heard of this iconic castle, maybe it's your first time online. Hello, and welcome! I kid. Neuschwanstein inspired the Disney castle and is one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations. Situated high in the Bavarian Alps, the views are breathtaking, leaving no mystery as to why this castle is on most travel bucket lists.

The idea for Neuschwanstein came to life when King Ludwig II lost sovereign power over his armies. In an effort to reign over something, he turned his attention to building palaces and castles where he could rule and be a "real king." He is responsible for constructing Linderhof Palace and Herrenchiemsee in addition to Neuschwanstein.

The Castle's foundation was laid in 1869, and due to the difficulties of constructing a castle on a mountainside, King Ludwig II did not move in until 1884, though his intial aspirations were to move in within three years of construction starting. By 1886, the recluse King was declared insane and died under mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg.

Today, you can visit the castle interiors with a guided tour or hike the grounds up to the famous viewpoint "Marienbrüke." From the top of the mountain, you can also see Hohenschwangau (also open to visitors and usually paired with a visit to Neuschwanstein), King Ludwig II's childhood home. To reach Neuschwanstein, take the shuttle, hike, or ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the top. I can attest that the hike is beautiful, especially when you have great weather.

*Hohenschwangau Castle. King Ludwig II’s childhood home*

Admission: April 1 to October 15: 9 am-6 pm| October 16 to March 31: 10 am-4 pm

Open daily except January 1 and 24 / 25 / 31 December

Tickets: https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/Shop/Index/en/39901

Guided Tours: Available in German and English. Children are required to obtain a free ticket for entry.

Note: Pre-booking your tickets well in advance is best, as they sell out quickly. If you miss your time slot, they will not give you a new time or allow you in after the time, so get there early.

There are so many castles and palaces throughout Germany and this post barely scratches the surface. If you find yourself planning a trip to Deutchland, hopefully this list helps guide your travel plans!

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