10 most beautiful castles in Germany

Germany is unofficially considered a country of castles, because there are more than 25 thousand of them here, more than in any other country in the world.

Alas, many of them are now only more or less picturesque ruins.

But about 4300 German castles are much better preserved, and tourists are willingly allowed there. Still would! After all, these (sometimes huge!) architectural monuments need to be maintained and maintained in decent condition for something.

Why did the German aristocracy build so many forts, fortresses, fortifications and castles? It’s all about the turbulent history of medieval Germany.

After all, in fact, this state became a state in the full sense of the word only in 1871, when several dozens of hitherto independent German kingdoms, duchies, counties, etc. united around the Kingdom of Prussia.

Well, earlier all these mini-states were constantly fighting among themselves for land and power, which is why the territory of Germany, most often, was the most “troubled” region of Europe.

That is why every self-respecting aristocrat (from the smallest baron to the noble prince) considered it his duty to rebuild for himself and his family a well-fortified castle-citadel, in which one could hold out longer in case of war and siege.

Over time, castles were repeatedly destroyed by enemies, rebuilt, rebuilt very seriously in accordance with new trends in fortification, architecture, etc.

Let’s get acquainted with the most beautiful of them today.

10 Moritzburg Castle

Just 14 km from the magnificent Dresden (Saxony), in the town of Moritzburg, there is a very interesting baroque castle with four round towers, surrounded by a large artificial lake (or rather, several small lakes connected together).

Once upon a time in these places, completely covered with dense forests, the Saxon electors of the Wettin house were very fond of hunting. And then one day Elector Moritz of Saxony ordered to build a hunting lodge here (in fact, a whole estate). So in 1542-1546. and the future Moritzburg Castle arose.

And almost two centuries later, the great-great-grandson of Moritz of Saxony, August the Strong, – by the way, not only the Elector of Saxony, but also the Polish king – wished to set up his residence here and ordered the court architect Matthias Pöppelman to rebuild Moritzburg “according to the latest fashion” (which was done in 1661-1671).

The castle became baroque, “island” and embodied in its interiors all the possible luxury of the second half of the XNUMXth century.

Its walls are decorated with bright frescoes depicting scenes from ancient mythology, the rooms are furnished with expensive furniture, and collections of the best examples of Chinese, Japanese, and Meissen porcelain are kept here.

Many rooms are reminiscent of royal hunting – they contain trophies (and among other things – the largest deer antlers in the world: 20 kg in weight and 2 meters long). By the way, there is a collection of carriages and carriages.

9. Hohenschwangau (Schloss Hohenschwangau)

Hohenschwangau Castle is located in Bavaria, near the town of Füssen, and very close to the famous Neuschwanstein (which is discussed below). Its name in translation is “High Swan Land”.

In the XNUMXth century, the Schwanstein fortress was founded on this site by the knights of Schwangau. It successfully existed until the XNUMXth century, when the Schwangau family ceased. From that moment on, the fortress was abandoned and began to slowly collapse. During the Napoleonic Wars, it was almost razed to the ground.

But in the early 30s of the XIX century, these ruins were bought by Maximilian II of Bavaria, who really liked these places. He ordered to rebuild everything anew (in the style of fashionable romanticism).

So in 1832-1836. Hohenschwangau appeared, which became the official summer and hunting residence of the Bavarian monarchs. After the death of Maximilian II, Hohenschwangau became the possession of his son Ludwig II of Bavaria, the dreamer king. Here he lived most of his life, he also invited the famous composer Richard Wagner here (creating comfortable conditions for him to work). The castle has preserved a piano, at which the maestro wrote his magical operas.

All interiors of Hohenschwangau are decorated in lilac and lilac tones, and its walls are decorated with delicate frescoes with scenes from Bavarian legends, most often of the “swan” theme.

8. Drachenburg (Schloss Drachenburg)

The youngest castle of our “top ten” – the beautiful neo-Gothic Drachenburg (“Dragon Castle”) – stands on the Drachenfels hill, above the city of Königswinter on the banks of the Rhine.

In fact, this is a very successful “hybrid” of the palace, castle and villa, surrounded by a large park with fountains and sculptures. This architectural masterpiece appeared in 1882-1884. on a whim and with the money of the German “nouveau riche” of that time, Stefan von Sarter.

Commoner Zarter made very good money as a stock exchange dealer and one of the participants in the construction of the Suez Canal, bought a baronial title and decided, on this occasion, to have his own castle. True, Zarter did not intend to move into it.

In 1902, he died without writing a will (because he did not have a wife or children). As a result, Drachenburg went to his relative Jakob Bizenbach, and he set up a “premium hotel” in it overlooking the Rhine for the richest guests.

Further, the castle managed to visit a railway school, a Catholic boarding school and a military school named after Adolf Hitler.

During the Second World War, anti-aircraft guns of the air defense department were on duty near Drachenburg, “thanks to” which allied aircraft bombed it. (And then the Americans also “expropriated” many art objects from the castle).

In 1971, the administration of North Rhine-Westphalia was about to demolish the dismal ruins, but they were bought (and thereby saved) by Paul Spinat, who restored Drachenburg and lived here until his death. Since 1989, the castle has been state property.

Inside, Drachenburg is as chic as it is outside – it is richly decorated with frescoes and tapestries depicting scenes from German myths and legends (the “Nibelungen rooms” are especially magnificent), as well as other objects of art, a beautiful spiral staircase leads to its upper apartments.

7. Wernigerode (Schloss Wernigerode)

From anywhere in the city of Wernigerode (Saxony) you can see the castle of the same name, proudly towering on a high hill. The very first fortress was erected on this site (by order of Count Adalbert) back in the XNUMXth century.

In 1429, when the family of the counts of Wernigerode died out, it became the property of the counts of Stolberg (from that moment on they became known as Stolberg-Wernigerode). It was they who expanded the fortress to a castle in the 1674th century, and in 1676-XNUMX. significantly rebuilt it (according to the canons of the Baroque).

The last reconstruction took place at the end of the 1929th century – then Wernigerode acquired its neo-Gothic features. By the way, the descendants of Stolberg-Wernigerode lived here until XNUMX.

If the castle seems vaguely familiar to you, then it’s not for nothing – the film “The Same Munchausen” in 1979 (with the magnificent Jankowski) was filmed here. How so? Why was Soviet cinema filmed in Germany? Because Wernigerode was then in the GDR.

6. Kochem (Reichsburg Castle Cochem)

For the first time, Cochem Castle is mentioned in documents at the turn of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries. A military fortress with thick, reliable walls surrounded by a moat was founded on a high hill above the Moselle River by the Lorraine count palatine.

From there, all the surroundings were perfectly surveyed. Until the middle of the XNUMXth century, Cochem changed owners more than once, until the king declared it imperial property (nevertheless, the Cologne archbishops constantly claimed the castle).

Finally, at the end of the XNUMXth century, Adolf, Count of Nassau and the new king of Germany, was forced to pledge Cochem to the Archbishop of Trier (due to lack of funds for his own coronation). And the next king – Albrecht I – also did not find the money to ransom Cochem, leaving him to the Bishops of Trier.

In the 1868th century, during the war between Germany and France for the Palatinate, the troops of the “Sun King” Louis XIV practically destroyed the castle, it was restored only in the 9th century – in 1978, Cochem bought the Berliner Louis Ravenet and rebuilt it in XNUMX years in the style neogothic. Since XNUMX, the castle belongs to the town of Cochem.

5. Schwerin Castle (Schloss Schweriner)

In the city of Schwerin, on an island in the middle of a lake connected to the mainland by two bridges, there is a relatively young but very photogenic castle surrounded by a beautiful English park with a XNUMXth century chapel.

It was built in 1845-1857. for the Dukes of Schwerin, architect Georg Adolf Demmler (commissioned by Friedrich Franz II). Earlier on this place for a long time – since the XNUMXth century – there was a military fortress, which was subjected to serious reconstruction several times. Today, a museum operates here, and the Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also meets.

Schwerin Castle is unique in its eclecticism (mixture of styles) – its different facades and towers correspond to the canons of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Classicism. And all this is combined in perfect harmony. In the castle you can see collections of paintings by Dutch and German artists, samples of Meissen porcelain of the XNUMXth century, silver items and jewelry, etc.

4. Lichtenstein (Schloss Lichtenstein)

Another young (but very beautiful) castle “saddled” a rocky cliff at an altitude of 817 meters in the Swabian Alb mountain range, not far from Reutlingen (Baden-Württemberg). Very close to it you can see the ruins of the former fortress of Old Liechtenstein, founded in the second half of the XNUMXth century, destroyed (almost to the ground) at the end of the XNUMXth century and never rebuilt in later times.

The white and beautiful Liechtenstein was built in 1840-1842 by order of the Duke of Württemberg, Wilhelm of Urach, who was extremely inspired by Wilhelm Hauff’s novel Liechtenstein.

The construction was carried out according to the then romantic ideas about knight’s castles, so it looks by no means harsh, but light and even airy. By the way, the descendants of the counts of Urach still live in it, who willingly allow visitors.

In Liechtenstein (which can only be reached by a stone bridge) there is something to see – magnificent collections of medieval weapons and armor, paintings, frescoes, etc. are collected here. In addition, the castle offers a great view.

3. Gogencollern (Burg Hohenzollern)

Settled on top of an 855-meter mountain, the huge Hohenzollern Castle is located in Baden-Württemberg, between Bisingen and Hechingen. Today it is one of the most visited castles in Germany. As is clear from its name, this is the former patrimony of the dynasty of electors who ruled in Prussia and Brandenburg (and from 1871 to 1918 were the Kaisers of all Germany).

In fact, the castle that we can see today is already the third one in the same place. The previous two were almost completely destroyed. One was founded back in the 1423th century and almost wiped off the face of the earth in 1850 by an army from Swabia. The second, rebuilt in the middle of the 1867th century, withstood the Thirty Years’ War with honor, but was practically abandoned (and half-dismantled) in the XNUMXth century, after losing its strategic importance – in fact, only St. Michael’s Chapel survived from it. Finally, the third castle was ordered to be built by the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV (which was done in XNUMX-XNUMX).

Now Hohenzollern has a neo-Gothic appearance, it has 140 halls and rooms, which contain many valuable items related to the history of Prussia and placed in chic interiors. Thus, the crown of Wilhelm II, personal belongings of Frederick II the Great, a letter from US President Washington, etc. are kept here.

2. Eltz (Burg Eltz)

Eltz looks like a real standard of a medieval knight’s castle. It was specially built in the most inaccessible place – on a steep rock in the middle of a dense forest. Even now it is difficult to see him without coming close. And such a location fully justified itself – the castle was not captured even once in its entire long history, which began in the XNUMXth century (even during the most cruel wars of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries), and therefore it has been perfectly preserved to this day.

Eltz is located in Rhineland-Palatinate, near the Moselle River and the cities of Koblenz and Trier. Once it was the family estate of the Rübnach, Rodendorff and Kempenich families.

The latest buildings of the castle date back to the XNUMXth century. In general, its medieval architecture is unique – since Eltz had nowhere to expand, it constantly grew upwards, “absorbing” elements from Romanesque to Baroque.

Inside the castle is as magnificent as it is outside: original furniture, large collections of medieval weapons and armor, porcelain, things and jewelry made of gold, silver and precious stones (more than 500 items) have been preserved here.

1. Neuschwanstein (Schloss Neuschwanstein)

Neuschwanstein, by all accounts, is the most beautiful (and therefore the most visited) castle not only in Germany, but throughout the world. It is located just a couple of kilometers from Hohenschwangau Castle (more precisely, just above it, on a hill).

Neuschwanstein was built at the request of the “fairytale king” Ludwig II of Bavaria, who dreamed of his own romantic knight’s castle, in 1869-1886.

As you know, Ludwig simply abandoned state affairs, plunging into the world of ancient German legends (his favorite character and role model was Lohengrin, the knight of the Swan). Therefore, all the halls of the castle are decorated with frescoes depicting vivid scenes from Germanic mythology (it is all one big illustration of them), as well as pseudo-medieval chandeliers, armor, etc. The third floor is specially dedicated to the operas of Richard Wagner, the beloved composer (and real idol!) Ludwig of Bavaria.

As a result, the king spent so much money on this large and beautiful “toy” that a huge gap appeared in the Bavarian treasury. And, since Ludwig did not want to listen to anything, continuing construction and getting into debt, his ministers arrested the king, declaring him insane.

And in June 1886, Ludwig II of Bavaria drowned in Lake Starnberg under very mysterious circumstances – along with him, Dr. von Gudden, assigned to him, was found dead …

By the way, it was Neuschwanstein that became the main model for the logo of the Disney studio. Take a closer look at it: isn’t it a familiar silhouette?