A Journey Through Nine Centuries of Castle History
The Castle Road (Burgenstraße) is one of the most famous and oldest holiday routes in Europe. Since 1954 it has connected over 70 castles, palaces and historic towns along roughly 975 kilometres — from Mannheim on the Rhine through the Neckar and Tauber valleys, across Franconia and Bohemia all the way to Prague. Those who travel this route do not merely cross three countries; they journey through nine centuries of feudal history, Romanticism and medieval architecture.
From Mannheim to Heidelberg — the Romantic Overture
The journey begins at the Electoral Palace of Mannheim. This imposing Baroque edifice, once the residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty, sets the tone: grand, self-assured and magnificent. Just 20 kilometres upstream lies Heidelberg with its world-famous castle, which sits enthroned on a sandstone crag above the Neckar. Few buildings have shaped German Romanticism so profoundly — the picturesque ruin inspired Goethe, Turner and countless other artists. An evening on the terrace with a view across the Old Town is the inescapable centrepiece of the route.
The Tauber Valley and Franconia — the Middle Ages in Pure Form
The road continues through the idyllic Tauber valley to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The intact medieval town wall, the half-timbered houses and the town hall convey the most authentic picture of a German imperial free city still to be experienced. Via Bad Mergentheim — with its Teutonic Order museum — and Weikersheim the route reaches Nuremberg. The Imperial Castle dominates the entire Old Town and for centuries served as one of the most powerful residences of the German emperors.
Franconia and the Bohemian Finale
The Franconian section passes through Bayreuth, Coburg and Kronach — each town a chapter in its own right. Coburg Fortress is regarded as one of the best-preserved German castles; Martin Luther spent almost an entire year here in 1530. The finale of the route awaits in Prague: Prague Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in the world by area, uniting Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque building phases on a single plateau high above the Vltava. Those who complete the full Castle Road will have experienced an unrivalled panorama of European castle history.
- 1
Mannheim
The route begins at the Electoral Palace of Mannheim, one of the largest Baroque palaces in Germany.
- 2
Heidelberg
Heidelberg Castle towers high above the Neckar — the very embodiment of German Romanticism and the unmissable heart of the Castle Road.
- 3
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Germany's best-preserved medieval town wall frames half-timbered alleyways and a striking townscape above the Tauber valley.
- 4
Nuremberg
The mighty Imperial Castle of Nuremberg dominates the Old Town and recalls the golden age of the Holy Roman Empire.
- 5
Bayreuth
The Margravial Opera House and New Palace make Bayreuth the cultural highlight of the Franconian section.
- 6
Coburg
Coburg Fortress — Luther's 'Wartburg of the North' — rises above the town and houses a significant art collection.
- 7
Kronach
Rosenberg Fortress is considered one of the best-preserved fortifications in Germany, largely unchanged since the 17th century.
- 8
Prague
Prague Castle crowns the finale of the route — one of the largest castle complexes in the world by area, high above the Vltava.
Übernachten am Schloss
Where to stay along the route
Find well-placed hotels and guesthouses for each stage of your castle journey — from castle hotels to charming inns.