10 most beautiful castles in Bavaria (Germany)

Castle Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle stands above Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southern Bavaria. The building was built in 1869 for the Bavarian King Ludwig II as an idealized idea of ​​a knight's castle from the Middle Ages. The designs are by Christian Jank, the execution was done by Eduard Riedel and Georg von Dollmann. The king lived only a few months in the castle, he died before the completion of the plant. Neuschwanstein was originally called the New Castle Hohenschwangau, it has its current name since 1886.

The castle is open from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm.

Veste Oberhaus

The almost 800-year-old Veste Oberhaus in Passau is one of the largest surviving castles in Europe. There, visitors can retrace the medieval life of the castle dwellers. For example, there are various guided tours in the House of Lords, also for children and families. Additional highlight: The castle offers a wonderful view of the Passau old town. 130 steps lead to the observation tower, which originally served as a fortification.

The castle is open from March 15th to November 15th from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. It is open from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Castle Leuchtenberg

There is only one ruin left from the castle in Leuchtenberg in the Upper Palatinate, but it is still impressive. First installations were probably already built in the 10th or 11th century, for a long time members of the sex of Leuchtenberger lived in the walls. Today, among other things, a castle chapel.

In the summer, there are festivals with theater performances on the Freilichtbühne at the Leuchtenberg Castle. The visit of the castle is possible from April 1st to October 31st from Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30am to 5pm.

Castle Trausnitz

Frederick the Fair should not have remembered the Castle Trausnitz in all too good memory: After he lost the fight against the rival King Ludwig IV, he was imprisoned there. In the tower room he is said to have spent more than two years chained on his hands and feet. After the castle had been changing owners for centuries, King Ludwig I bought it in 1830. Today, the Free State of Bavaria is owner, a youth hostel is located on the premises. Upon agreement, guided tours take place on the premises.

Castle Cadolzburg

In the late Middle Ages Berlin was even temporarily governed by the Cadolzburg, in the 20th century, however, was little more than a ruin of the imposing castle left. Towards the end of the Second World War, roofs and false ceilings of the core castle burned down. For decades, the ruin continued to languish, because it remained open. In the meantime, however, the Bavarian Palace Department has secured the building fabric, since June 2017 there is also an exhibition. There, visitors can admire many original objects, especially the everyday life around the medieval life in the castle.

The exhibition is open from 9 am to 6 pm from April to September and from 10 am to 4 pm from October to March.

Castle Kaiserburg

he imperial castle is the landmark of Nuremberg, once it was one of the most important places of the empire. In the late Middle Ages many Reichsversammlung took place there, besides, new elected rulers held their first court day in Nuremberg - so it wanted the Golden Bull. Although the castle was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, some parts remained almost undamaged: the chapel building, wall paneling in the room of the Emperor and the ceiling of the Emperor's chamber can still be visited today. Other rooms have been restored to original dimensions - for example the Kemenate. There is today the historic Kaiserburg Museum.

The castle is open from April to September from 9 am to 6 pm and from October to March from 10 am to 4 pm.

Veste Coburg

The Veste towers over Coburg, its walls and towers dominate the image of the entire surrounding area. West to the Rhön, east to the Franconian Forest and Fichtelgebirge you can see from the imposing fortress. Today, the Veste houses art collections, historical weapons, carriages and handicrafts. A "Luther Room" can also be visited, as the Reformer spent six months in the castle in 1530.

The Veste is open from April to October from 9.30 am to 5 pm and from November to March from 1 pm to 4 pm. Then it is closed on Mondays.

Castle Lauenstein

The northernmost castle in Bavaria is Lauenstein in the Franconian Forest. Mysterious legends entwine today around this fortress, allegedly the "White Lady", the ghost of Catherine of Orlamünde haunt the castle. According to the story, Orlamünde reportedly stabbed her children with a golden needle. Because her lover Albrecht von Hohenzollern said that her love was "four eyes in the way". This Katharina referred to her children, meant the beloved but had their own parents. As a punishment for the murder of her children Katharina had to make a pilgrimage to Rome and spend her remaining life in the monastery. Therefore, she allegedly cursed the Hohenzollern.

If you want to visit the castle itself, the castle is open from April to September from 9 am to 6 pm and from October to March from 10 am to 4 pm.

Castle Burghausen

In the southeast of Bavaria is one of the longest castles in the world: Burghausen. Once the Wittelsbacher inhabited the main castle, in the forecourts lived the officials and craftsmen. The most well-known resident was probably Duchess Hedwig of Bavaria-Landshut, whose wedding is celebrated every four years with a huge historical spectacle at the Landshut wedding.

In the former women's wing visitors can see an exhibition about medieval life in the castle. In addition to the Stadtmuseum Burghausen, the "Haus der Fotografie - Dr. Robert-Gerlich-Museum" is also housed in the fortress. The castle is open from April to September from 9am to 6pm and from October to March from 10am to 4pm.

Castle Prunn

Southwest of Regensburg the castle Prunn towers over the river valley of the Altmühl. It is best known for the "Prunner Codex", which a historian found in 1566 at the castle. It is the fourth oldest complete copy of the Nibelungenlied. There is a permanent exhibition in the castle on the hero epic. During a tour of the fortress, one can also get to know the lifestyles of the former castle inhabitants, whereby topics such as hunting, clothing and law are taken up.