Baden-Württemberg

The ancestral heartland of the Hohenstaufen and Hohenzollern dynasties is also one of Germany’s most castle-rich federal states. On the Swabian Alb — the former core territory of the Hohenstaufen Empire — Hohenzollern Castle still reigns supreme today: an imposing Neo-Gothic ensemble that served the kings of Prussia as a dynastic sanctuary. Not far away, the ruins of Teck, Hohenneuffen, and Reußenstein bear witness to the fact that this highland plateau was once criss-crossed by a dense network of noble seats in the Middle Ages.

Along the Upper Rhine and in the Black Forest the variety continues: Hohenbaden Castle above the spa town of Baden-Baden, Rötteln Castle near Lörrach, and the magnificent Heidelberg Castle on the northern edge of the state are among the most celebrated castle ruins in the German south-west. Heidelberg Castle ranks as one of the most significant Renaissance buildings north of the Alps and draws millions of visitors every year. On Lake Constance, island settings, moated castles, and princely residences such as Heiligenberg Palace combine to form a unique panorama.

Baden-Württemberg invests continuously in opening up its castle landscape to visitors. Well-signposted walking trails link many sites, museums document history and everyday life, and lively medieval markets bring the past back to life. Whether it is a climbing garden in the ruins of a Hohenstaufen fortress or festive castle concerts in an illuminated inner courtyard, the south-west’s castle offering blends historical depth with contemporary experience.