The best views of Burg Hohenzollern are usually from the distance, but with the less-than-stellar weather…that wasn’t really the case
A short ride outside of Germany’s unofficial car capital Stuttgartt sits one of the country’s prettiest castles. In a country with over 200 castles, this is no small feat. Probably the country’s most famous castle is the Neuschwanstein, but Baden-Württemberg (southwestern Germany)’s largest castle is the Burg Hohenzollern.
Privately owned, Burg Hohenzollern is an important site in Purssian history. It’s essentially where Prussian lineage began (and eventually divided). The castle was the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern dynasty, ruling over Prussia from the Middle Ages up until the end of the First World War. The owners of the castle today are descendants from the same family tree!
I visited on a cloudy October day, so unfortunately the pretty views I was expecting weren’t there. Although the walk up from the car park to the castle was sufficiently eerie.
Visit Burg Hohenzollern
Visits to the castle cost 5€ but if you’re there during select hours, you can also join a guided tour for an additional 5€. Getting to the castle is a bit tricky. There are two daily trains from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof to Hechingen station. From there, a shuttle bus (or taxi) will drive you up the mountain to the castle entrance. The trains depart Stuttgart at 10:16 and 12:16 and the journey takes just over one hour.
More information about the castle can be found on their official website.
On the way up to the castle
Castle Grounds
Foggy day at the castle
Courtyard looked spooky in the foggy weather
I just loved the details of the castle. Very often tourists view castles from a distance (like I did at Schwerin) but much of the spectacle is in the details
Hike up to the castle
The Burg Hohenzollern has been rebuilt three separate times over the centuries
The Hohenzollern family tree takes up an entire room in the castle
Burg Hohenzollern
There’s your stereotypical castle photo
Luxury living in the castle – though many of the rooms weren’t actually used in recent centuries as the family had numerous residences
Entrance to the castle
What castle wouldn’t be complete without a drawbridge?!
The Iron Cross is famous in German history but did you know it originated with King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in the early 1800s?
Wallpaper in the castle – because the patterns and style was just so rich!
The crown jewels! Not as majestic maybe as England’s but Prussia can hold its own.
Again – beauty in the details
A Prussian landmark! There aren’t many of those these days…
A view of the castle from the inside
Please note: I was a guest of the Hohenzollern Castle while on a trip with other bloggers, as part of a partnership with the Deutsche Bahn & Baden-Württemberg Tourism. Learn more about that trip here.
Beautiful. I may have to make a trip there! I was just near Stuttgart for the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival and the Palace.
Pumpkin Festival, what?! Sounds cool! Stuttgart isn’t bad but it’s much better when you can get out for a day trip or two :)
Love the architecture and that misty fog. Wow!
It was a really impressive building – and the fog made it more so!
Nice shots, Adam. Especially creepy on such a foggy day. It’s great to see visits to some of the ‘lesser-known’ castles in Germany, as everyone just automatically makes a bee-line for Neuschwanstein.
I had actually been hoping for a sunny day because then I could’ve gotten more impressive photos I think. Though in the end the fog was pretty special.
And completely agree about the lesser-known sites in Germany. Schwerin Castle was really impressive when I visited earlier this year. Still haven’t made it to Neuschwanstein
I can never get enough castles. Particularly the ones with spiky towers, which are often the best. Interesting how it’s still owned by the same family. I wonder how many castles like that still exist…
I don’t imagine there are many castles still owned by the original family!! I thought that was really interesting though
Love the foggy photos. The fog adds so much character and beauty
Indeed Corinne! I was a bit disappointed with the bad weather, but was pleasantly surprised to get some nice photos out of it :)
Great pictures Adam! Love your eye on the details!
Thanks Synke! Castles can be so big, so I think it’s nice to focus on the littler things
Great picture to share with us. I will have to make trip there.
Very lovely account and beautiful photos, Adam! I’ve been living in Germany for about 1.5 years now and I loved this castle to. You must visit Schloss Neuschwanstein if you have time. :)
Best,
Whitney
something out of a fairy tale!
Privately owned by the descendants of the house of Hohenzollern?? Amazing..this is why I love Europe! The castle looks like it could easily fit into one of the George Martin´s fantasy books. The foggy weather adds to the atmosphere, that´s for sure, but, still, it´s a shame you didn´t get to appreciate the views. They must be stunning from that hilltop.
The love the whole historical aspect of this- looks great! :)
It looks so eerie in the fog! I visited a few years back and I really enjoyed the hike up through the forest. Also, I remember our guide telling us stories about how the young owners of the castle had been known to throw some wild raves. Not a bad place for a party… ;)
I learn so much about cultures just from your blog, thanks so much! :)
[…] Hohenzollern Castle in Germany Privately owned, Hohenzollern Castle is an important site in Purssian history located just outside of Stuttgart, Germany. It’s essentially where Prussian lineage began (and eventually divided). The castle was the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern dynasty, ruling over Prussia from the Middle Ages up until the end of the First World War. The owners of the castle today are descendants from the same family tree! In fact, as the tour guides like to point out, the family owners used to love throwing parties & raves in the historic site. Adam Groffman at https://travelsofadam.com/2013/11/german-castles-hohenzollern/ […]
[…] Germany has taught me to appreciate the strange beauty that is indeed here. German castles such as Hohenzollern and Neuschwanstein are popular destinations, but when traveling by train in Germany, it’s […]