This is one of the most beautiful castles that I've seen in Germany. Hike to the castle takes about an hour from Moselkern. And it was not a difficult hike. You need to pay to enter the museum which includes a guided tour; the price is reduced for students. The German guided tour starts every 5 mins or so. There's also an English tour. When we visited, we had to wait for 20 mins before the English tour starts. It started at 12 noon. See more..
4.5Marksburg(997 reviews) - Wow Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles
The castle is very well maintained. You can't get into the tower and upper quarters since it is inhabited, but there is a lot to see with the rest of it. These are guided tours so you are not going to be able to spend lots of time in places but you are there and able to see a lot and the history you learn of the Castle is interesting. It overlooks the river and has a good view of the valley. There are spots that can be slippery since it is built on the rock and if it is raining it can be treacherous. Not a easy walk if you have disabilities with walking.See more..
4.5Rheinfels Castle(506 reviews) - A fun and informative visit with beautiful views Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Castles
We really enjoyed walking around this castle ruin. There is a small museum inside that provides excellent information on the the history of the castle and surrounding area. The brochure takes you on a guided walk around the castle. They have a few guided tours during the day but we preferred just wandering around on our own.See more..
The people I was staying with suggested I go to the schloss, and I'm glad they did. It was really nice. Admission was not too expensive (as a student it was only 1.5 Euros). Since I do not read German I also opted for an audio guide. It was very informative, and I learned a lot. The exhibits looked awesome. A lot of them where interactive. I think it would be enough to entertain a child. I would have gotten a lot more out of this stop if I spoke German. There were hiking trails around the castle and into the city. The view is nice. To get the the Schloss take bus 502 from the Nuestadt train station it drops you off 200 meters from the entrance. On the way back I decided to take the trails back to the city. Be warned, the sign says 5km to the train station. It's closer to 8km.See more..
4.5Schloss Stolzenfels(282 reviews) - Beautiful castle in a beautiful setting Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Castles
Do note that access to the interior is limited due to Corona: a) your ticket has a timeslot for entry, and b) the time inside is limited to about 20 minutes. So it is best to pre-book via Internet so you are sure to have tickets and at which timeslot. You can roam around the gardens for as long as you like. Parking is at the foot of the hill, which is free for visitors (ask for a coin at the entrance desk). It does mean that you need to walk up the hill to the castle, which is at quite a slope. Able persons will take that some 20 minutes. Elderly and people in wheelchairs will have a challenge.See more..
Some of my kids, and our 'adopted,' German foreign exchange student, stayed in this historic castle and present day hostel. The view of the Rhine is incredible. Burg Stahleck was first built in 1135, destroyed to just walls and foundation in the 17th century. In 1828 the Crown Prince Frederick William acquired it. It was rebuilt to original specs. Even Hitler Youth was housed in here before WWII. Great place to sleep, or just walk up to it from Bacharach town center.See more..
4.5Rheinstein Castle(207 reviews) - Castle with cosy and beautiful rooms Castles
"Burg Rheinstein" is nowadays a interesting museum with a long history. There is a restaurant for visitors and if you'd like to a special experience - there two beautiful apartments which can be booked for a overnight stay. The castle "Burg Rheinstein" is located approx. 5 kilometers (approx. 3 miles) westward of Bingen, down the river Rhine, at the south entrance of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of the Upper Middle-Rhine Valley ("Oberes Mittelrheintal"), face to face with the village of Assmannshausen. The castle was the symbol of the castle-reconstruction period in the 19th century, the so-called Romanticism, because of its impressive location, and also its eventful history had many highlights.See more..
4.5Thurant Castle(190 reviews) - A Quaint Castle on the Mosel Castles
A very old castle with great views of the Mosel valley. There are beautiful gardens to explore and a few rooms to visit. We were especially intrigued by the pulley system for lowering an armored knight onto a horse! The proprietors are very friendly and the admission price was very reasonable. Definitely worth a visit!See more..
4.0Burg Saarburg(179 reviews) - Gardens of Saarburg Castle Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Castles
Love how Saarburg managed their castle. It is open to the public free of charge. There is the tallest tower with modern, well kept status. If you don’t like tight spaces there is a short sections of the stairs that is pretty tight towards the top, but the view is incredible. I took my Mom up with me via FaceTime so I forgot to take pictures! There is a restaurant at the base of the main tower and if you follow the paths around you will come to a smaller tower which surrounded by a beautiful garden. You can also climb this tower, although it is much shorter/quicker.See more..
Castle with a great view over the countryside. Also much to look at inside. The price is also ok. Please be aware that no dogs are allowed.See more..
4.5Burg Pfalzgrafenstein(116 reviews) - A fun castle to visit! Monday: Spent < 1 hour Castles
This castle is small and quite spartan, but it has an interesting history and is on an island. Just getting to it is an adventure, and it's worth the trip. We were staying in Bacharach and the ferry is a few kms north of Bacharach. We crossed (on foot) on the car ferry to Kaub and then caught a small passenger boat to the island. The captain of the the shuttle to the island is delightful and happy to talk (in German) about how fast water flows in the Rhine (6 kms/hr normally and up to 10 kms/hr in high water) and about the high water flooding ---particularly in 1988. The castle is interesting and you can wander around....with a small interpretive guide given to you on admission. It is worth the trip and you get out on the Rhine and therefore, get a different perspective.See more..
We toured the tower and enjoyed the views! It was very nice. Following we ate at the restaurant for lunch and the food was delicious. The next night we saw a fireworks display from behind the building. We had a great experience.See more..
4.0Burg Lahneck(106 reviews) - A german castle with an english ghost! Castles
The dislike has got to be the climb - my friend told me it was a 1 kilometre walk, he forgot to mention is was up 300+ steps!!!! Howvever, once there the views over the Lahn and Rhine valleys are spectacular and the the trip around the castle was wonderful - the story about the english ghost is equally intriguing. Worth a visit.See more..
4.5Grevenburg Castle(105 reviews) - Worth the steep hike for ruins and stunning panorama Spent < 1 hour Castles
I found the walk up from Trarbach was worth the challenge - it is a steep but pleasant hike, passing through a vineyard, then to the Kreigerdenkmal (war memorial). I stopped here to consider the memorial, enjoy the view and have a drink of water. The path then ascends through forest, to the castle ruins. I probably took an hour to do the climb, but stopped for photos and a rest, along the way. A fit person in a hurry could probably do it in under 30 minutes. The day I went up, the cafe at the top was closed and I had the castle ruins entirely to myself. Some interesting historical information in multiple languages. Views from the top were absolutely stunning.See more..
4.5Burg Lichtenberg(103 reviews) - Good Outside Experience. Castles
We were here during covid so nothing on the inside was open. Parking is easy and is at the bottom of the castle. The are a lot of ruins to see and it is very large so even with many visitors you are at least 6 feet apart. We enjoyed the time out in the open air looking at all the walls and history.See more..
Excellent presentation, well maintained, great views. The route through the castle is well planned especially because of social distancing requirements. Probably our best castle visit in the Southern Pfalz.See more..
I loved our stay here. The room and bed was comfortable, and there were nice touches like Mozart Kugeln and a decanter of sherry in our room. The four course dinner with matching wines was divine and I was impressed at how well my food allergies were accommodated. Helpful service in the hotel and restaurant. Would love to return.See more..
4.5Burg Hohenecken(100 reviews) - very evocative and no wonder Kaiserslaughtern is proud of it Historic Sites • Castles
When I visited, I met some researchers who told me I'd wandered into a part of it that wasn't open to the general public yet, and they said this very courteously. I returned to the general public area and the ability to photograph the place was still excellent. I recommend it.See more..
4.0Burg Berwartstein(88 reviews) - Loved this Castle & Tour near Erlanbach Monday: 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM Castles
This was an amazing experience. Still intact after more than 1000 years! The tour guide did a fabulous job with much expression & humour.....it was obvious that he enjoyed what he was doing! Tour was in German though, so try to organise English Translation , otherwise you will miss many very interesting stories & facts. You are allowed to take photos inside this Castle!......unlike many of the more famous castles where your are not allowed to take any photos inside! Fabulous views from the Castle. There is a restaurant in the "Knight's Room" inside the castle. We had lunch here and really enjoyed the food & atmosphere. If you're staying near Kauserslautern as we were, you will enjoy a very pleasant drive South from Kaiserslautern through the Pfalzer Wald to this Castle near Erlanbach.See more..
4.5Burg Rheinfels(85 reviews) - Awesome visit! Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ancient Ruins • Castles
The most powerful landmark of St. Goar is Rheinfels Castle. It is the largest and one of the most magnificent castle ruins on the Rhine - equally important for the castle architecture of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen in the 14th century as well as for the castle and fortress construction of the 16th to 18th century Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. Immerse yourself in the Middle Ages, explore fortifications, towering towers and halls and passageways cut into the rock.See more..
4.0Schloss Buerresheim(72 reviews) - Excellent castle inside and out. Castles
The castle is beautiful and photogenic on the outside, with formal gardens and nicely restored "gingerbread" buildings, lots of flowers and rock facades. More interesting, however, is the inside which allows the visitor to see the castle sections built in various time periods from 1180 to the 1700s pretty much as they were. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, but spoke German only. Loved the original beams, doors, tile floors, and other structural details.See more..
4.0Villa Ludwigshoehe(68 reviews) - Great views of the Rhine Valley Monday: Castles
Nice view over the "Rheinebene" the Rhine valley. Always worth a short visit when in the region. Good local food options are close by.See more..
4.5Reichenstein Castle(67 reviews) - Excellent Stay but Castle Tour Not Included Monday: Castles
Family of four traveling kids ages 11 and 15. We had a lovely stay for a long weekend along the Rhine and the chance to stay in a castle was too good to pass up. The rooms were done very well and excellently appointed. Very comfortable beds and excellent nights sleep. Breakfast in the morning was very good and in a great space with views of the river. The parking was very limited and would be a much better idea to reserve spots for hotel guests but that did not occur. The other shortfall was that even with staying overnight in the castle they still charge for a tour, even self guided. I would think when one pays the extra to stay that the least that would be provided is entry. I would recommend the stay to anyone that wants the experience but would highly recommend to management that they relook are the tour option for hotel guests. See more..
4.5Altdahn Castle(66 reviews) - Beautiful and interesting - Go for the annual Bergfest Castles
I went a few years ago with my wife and son. I was fiirst there in 1979 for the Bergfest (Altdahn Castle Festival). The castle has some restoration but is mostly a ruin. You see where thousands of feet wore down the stone stairs over hundreds of years. It is a short walk up a gravel path to get there. The view from the top is breathtaking. A few miles up the road in Merzalben castle, also a ruin. I also recommend seeing Clausen Site 59 and Liemen Site 67. These are old bunkers where the US Army had a top-secret base for Nerve Gas storage, Now a beatiful forest. There is a park in nearby Hinterweidenthal with the Teufelstasch, a rock formation called the "Devils Table". Got to try Pirminator beer from the Park Brewery, best (and most) that I've ever had.See more..
4.0Burg Sooneck(64 reviews) - Great little castle Castles
Really nice little castle. It is very well kept. Everything is very clean and the garden is beautiful! The entrance costs 5,50€/adult, and it’s worth it every cent. The road from the parking lot to the castle is about 100 and is very easy to walk.See more..
4.0Schloss Oberstein(63 reviews) - Careful restored Ancient Ruins • Castles
Visited this gem recently with family. Very carefully restored and gives an impressive view into the history.See more..
4.5Niederburg Manderscheid(62 reviews) - Pretty spot Monday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ancient Ruins • Castles
The Niederburg castle is actually a ruin but worth a visit. It‘s very affordable and very interesting to walk within the walls and around the remains of the ancient castle. It does tell its own story. Quite romantic to be honest. See more..
4.0Burgruine Wachtenburg(58 reviews) - Wine tour lunch break / Bratwurst with a view Spent < 1 hour Castles
Enjoyed the 10 minute hike (we went the long way through town) to this castle + biergarten. The view from the cafe is worth the hike. The sausages and beer are standard (nothing special nothing bad) and hit the spot after a morning of biking around wine country. The cafe ordering and food pickup space is small and during lunch it was very busy with a line out the door. We got a few stink eyes from the locals for not being on our best orderly behavior. A bit of German helped break he ice (use whatever phrases you have). Also be advised, the buzzer for our food order had a somewhat short range (didn’t reach around to the side picnic tables) so hover in range while you wait for your order. Take a moment to climb the tower after lunch for an even more remarkable view of the valley. See more..
Enjoyed our time here. It was inexpensive to visit. I believe 3€ per person. Only downfall was it was still under construction when visiting but still got great pictures and the overall feel of the place. See more..
4.0Schloss Sayn(55 reviews) - Absolutely worth it Castles
Absolutely worth it - and buy the combo ticket and make you check out the butterfly park too. Love it every time I go.See more..
4.5Schloss Namedy(55 reviews) - Enjoyed a wonderful dinner and music Castles
We went to Schloss Namedy for a dinner and musical entertainment as part of our APT Magnificent Europe Tours. Even though it was in the evening, we could see it was really beautiful place, the food was good and it ended with a lovely musical entertainment. We were allowed to roam the castle and we truly enjoyed the evening.See more..
This was a trip down memory lane for my wife. She used to come to the ruins as a child and explore. This is a well preserved example of some great architecture. A must see if you are in the area.See more..
Spent about 2 hours in the Eifel museum and the mines. Great and interesting and everything is very compact and in a nice scenery. The staff is also extremely friendly and helpful.See more..
3.5Burg Pyrmont(33 reviews) - Outside is beautiful Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles
This is a beautiful castle. Could only go outside of it. I don't speak German, so I'm sure there are times posted someplace, I just didn't see it. I crossed this gem coming from Castle Burg Eltz. So it was a nice treat to run into. See more..
4.5Frankenstein Castle(33 reviews) - Burg Frankenstein Halloween Party (for kids) Castles
Went to Burg Frankenstein for the kids Halloween Sunday party and it was amazingly terrifying. Well, for kids. VIP tickets are a must-get and worth the extra cost, because you get a dedicated table inside, all you can eat buffet, drinks (yes, wine/beer) and dedicates wait staff for the entire event. Monsters were very realistic and they did a really good job of tailoring their acting and intensity to the age and response of the children. Some kids who were obviously scared, had witches or zombies take them by the hand and gently walk them through the “event” so that they would not be so scared. Then some, like Frankenstein, terrified adults. A zombie Nun chased a bunch of teenage boys who were screaming like toddlers. Food was great, staff was great. It was easy to find, easy to park, and a quick shuttle bus ride to the castle and event. If your kids are 6-8 or skittish and easily scared, just be prepared to deal with a few nights of them sleeping with you afterward!See more..
4.0Are Castle(33 reviews) - Great views from castle, start of Rotweinwanderweg Castles
The castle Are was built in 1100 by Count Dietrich I of Are. In 1246 it was gifted to the Catholic Church (Archbishop of Cologne) and it was further developed and expanded from 1300 to 1600. It was captured by the French in 1690 after a 9 month siege. The castle was badly damaged. In 1706 it came into German hands again, but was so unstable/unsafe that that most of the walls were removed. In 1997-1999 what was left of the castle was restored and stabilized, so no more rocks fell down on the road and town below. So there is not much of the old castle to see, but the views of the Ahr valley are great. Hiking up to Burg Are is also on the start of the Rotweinwanderweg from Altenahr, so you might as well detour just a bit to see the castle and check out the views. The Rotweinwanderweg from here to Mayschoss is outstanding and should not be missed!See more..
4.0Oberburg(29 reviews) - Worth the walk Spent < 1 hour Castles
Nice ruins to visit (for free). You only need a quite short walk (15 minutes) to get there. The tower gets good maintenance. You can climb the tower, but it can be dark inside, so you might need a light. The tower gives you a nice view over Manderscheid and the surroundings! Definitely worth visiting!See more..
This is the perfect place to sit snd recover after a long hike across the hills of the Pfälzer Wald. Drink a wheat beer and eat traditional Palatinate liver dumplings and enjoy the magnificent view across the entire Vorderpfalz all the way to the Black Forest some 40 km east. If you have parked your car at the bottom of the Villa Ludwigshöhe you should take the chairlift, which again offers a great view.See more..
This is one of the smaller castles i have visited . It was only 10 minutes from where i was staying. From a distance you can already see it. As you approach the castle up the hill it has a commanding presence! I went up the tower and had an great view of the surrounding areas! Aside from tower the castle had audio presentations-about the area that were in English and is good info for tourists! Lovely place !!See more..
Great walk. Can make a circle route of about 4 km. start point at hotel Winneburg (climb up) and then when finish in the ruins turn left and go back from the other side. The route is very comfortable (semi paved road). You climb for 2 km (our 10 years daughter did it quiet easily). The ruins itself is beautiful and untouched. Very authentic. See more..
5.0Burgruine Drachenfels(19 reviews) - einen Ausflug und den Aufstieg wert Spent 1-2 hours Castles
Vorab: den besten Eindruck der Ruine und der kompletten Umgebung bekommt man, wenn man eine der zahlreichen Wanderungen um die Burg macht. Wanderschuhe an, eine 15–20 km wählen und los gehts...der Pfälzerwald zeigt sich hier von seiner schönsten Seite. Für die Faulen unter euch: man kann auch mit dem Auto direkt zur 300 Meter weit entfernten Drachenfelshütte fahren und dann die letzten paar (sehr steilen) Meter hoch zur Ruine zu Fuss zurücklegen. Zur Ruine selbst: man hat einen FANTASTISCHEN auf Busenberg und das Dahner Umland. Es gilt einige Treppen und „Leitern“ zu erklimmen um belohnt zu werden. Leider sind Rollstuhlfahrer hier absolut chancenlos. Dies liegt aber nicht an der Anlage der Wege sondern an der Grundbeschaffenheit der Burg selbst. Insgesamt spreche ich hier eine absolute Empfehlung aus. Man kann hier (und auf den Wanderwegen um die Burg herum) einen wundershcönen Tag verbringen und bekommt kostenlos eine fantastische Aussicht geboten.See more..
There were two guided visits on a day. It is military terrain (!), so you have to drop your passport at the entrance. A guide is taking you about on the vast terrain. Beautiful building, a lot of information is given by the guide. Very beautiful ceilings in almost every room. Formerly a palace, now offices of the Bundeswehr.See more..
4.5Burg Landskron(14 reviews) - A Nice Place For A Quiet Walk...And The Views Are Magnificent. Castles
According to what we could find out about these ruins, Landskron castle was probably built in the early 13th century. This castle was destroyed in 1257 and 1275 by the rebellion Oppenheim citizens. It was rebuilt in 1281.It remained active until it was burned down in 1621 during the Thirty Years War. In the Nine Years War, French troops blew up the keep in 1689. We walked through the ruins and imagined what it was like when it was all together. It is still an awesome sight to behold but the damage was nearly total. The town uses the ruins for festivals and grape vine grow right up to the walls almost. it is a great place to visit and just a short walk away from the church so you can get two for one.See more..
Gräfenstein Castle (Pfalz) is a beautiful ruin, like many other undiscovered castles and ruins in the Pfalz-area. It lies on a 12-metre-high rock plateau (447 m above sealevel). It's partly renovated. The main tower is accessible and gives a great view on the surrounding landscape!See more..
Anlässlich einer Hochzeit residierten wir auf dem Schloss. Die ganze Atmosphäre, gerade der Hochzeit hatte etwas von einem Urlaub in der Toskana. Ein liebevoller Staff kümmerte sich detailverliebt um die Gäste. Sogar eine kompetente Führung war im Paket inkludiert. Die Zimmer haben, bei durchaus vorhandener Improvisation, herrschaftliches Flair. Himmelbetten gepaart mit ritterwappenverzierten Kaminen. Top moderne Bäder und der Charme der Neogotik. Dazu ein Kühlschrank voller erstklassiger Weine. Das Schild auf dem Kühlschrank beschreibt diese Gastronomie besser, als jede Rezension: „Nehmen Sie sich bitte die Flasche heraus und rechnen Sie einfach an der Rezeption ab. Wir vertrauen Ihnen. Danke vor allem an Anna Holm. Der jungen Dame kann man seine Herzensfeier getrost anvertrauen.See more..
Overlooking the village of Kobern-Gondorf, is this old ruin. You can drive to the chapel and walk down but I recommend that you walk all the way up. This way it’s much more satisfying to reach the goal! See more..
