Certainly, Germany is one of the best destinations for those who want to visit a castle (or several!). Here, travelers will find everything from ruins to extremely well-preserved castles, with themed guided tours, medieval fairs within castles, and even the option of dining or staying in a castle.
The word “castle” comes from the Anglo-Norman French word “castel”, which derives from the Latin word whose meaning is “fort.” There are many types of fortifications built for defense, but a castle is used specifically as a residence. castles were generally occupied by people with high hierarchical positions, such as a lord, knight, or monarch.
Castle or palace?
Sometimes, there is a certain confusion between what is a castle and a palace or mansion, but how to differentiate them? Although they have some other characteristics that differentiate them, the most visible difference is that a palace is not fortified (absence of a wall, something that protects it) nor used for military purposes, just as the palaces arise mostly from the 16th century onwards. Now that we know how to identify castles, let’s get to know them!
Castle of Eltz (Burg Eltz)
Dating from the year 850 and situated on the hills above the Mosel River, this beautiful castle was one of the few in the region that has remained intact during all wars since its construction. It still belongs to the same family (Eltz Family) since the 12th century, 33 generations ago. The castle was built on top of a 70-meter high rock, located on an important Roman trade route between rich lands and its markets, and also has a forest named after it.
Hohenzollern Castle
The current Hohenzollern castle is actually the third one built on this site. The third and current castle was built between 1846 and 1867 as a family memorial by King Frederick William IV of Prussia, heir to the Hohenzollern dynasty.
The von Hohenzollern royal house is one of the most important European noble families that founded the German Empire, which was the royal house through the dynasty of the same name. In addition to the beauty of the castle itself, when visiting it, you can see treasures such as the imperial crown of William II, an intact dress by Queen Louise, a uniform of Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great), and a letter from George Washington to Baron von Steuben, among others. With around 400,000 visitors a year, Hohenzollern Castle is still one of Germany’s most visited castles today.
Marksburg Castle
Marksburg Castle can boast the title that no other in the region has: in more than 800 years, the castle has never been destroyed. The castle was built in approximately 1117 to protect the city of Braubach and to reinforce customs practices. Eppstein’s lords built the Romanesque castle complex and were among the most powerful families of the time.
Those more interested in history will certainly immerse themselves in the rich history of the castle, but for those who simply want to enjoy the scenery, the surrounding area is very pleasant, with options for stunning views of the Rhine, restaurants, and walking and cycling trails along the river.
Currently, the castle houses an extensive museum, a café, in addition to the headquarters and offices of the German Association of Castles (Deutsche Burgenverein), whose main task is the protection and preservation of castles and fortifications in Germany. We here, who love castles and history, are members of the association. <3
Wartburg Castle
This castle, besides being of great beauty, has an important meaning for Christians, as it was the home of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, and also the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament of the Bible into German. Wartburg is a castle originally built in the Middle Ages, with its foundation laid around 1067 by Count Ludwig of Schauenburg.
It is situated on a 410-meter precipice, overlooking the city of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia. In 1999, UNESCO added Wartburg Castle to the World Heritage List. On our guided tours, it is possible to take them on a guided tour, including the room in which Luther stayed. The castle of Wartburg was also the inspiration for another icon of castles and palaces in Germany, the Neuschwanstein palace, built in the 19th century. However, this is the topic for another post, only about palaces.
Cochem Castle (Reichsburg)
This is the castle you see in the video on our homepage (if you view the site on your laptop). Located at more than 90 meters high on a hill on the banks of the Mosel River, the castle of Cochem, dating from 1100, served to collect tolls from ships that passed at that time on the Mosel River. However, the castle we see today is different from what it was in the 12th century.
In 1688, the French invaded the Rhine and Mosel del Palatinate regions, which included Cochem and his castle. French troops conquered the castle and then destroyed not only it but the city as well. Louis Ravené, a businessman from Berlin, decided to buy the ruins and rebuild the castle in 1868. Currently, the city of Cochem owns the castle, which is also open to visitors.
In addition to the incredible view of the Mosel River, this authentic castle, with Gothic and romantic details, is certainly worth your visit.
In our personalized trips, you can include the visit and guided tours in these and other castles. The trip is done your way. Contact!
