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| Wartburg |
This name of this medieval castle, founded by count Ludwig der Springer in 1067, is associated with German words wacht (watch) and burg (castle). Wartburg has an extremely rich history, and was an inspiration for several notable people, such as Richard Wagner, whose opera Tännhauser used elements from the contest of the minstrels held at the castle in 1207, and Martin Luther, who took shelter here and translated the New Testament of the Bible into German language in the 16th century. Some parts of the castle are of Romanesque style, and others are newer, thanks to renovations executed at the request of Goethe. The castle, accessed via a drawbridge has several interesting sights, such as the Romanesque Palace, the Hall of Minstrels, two towers, dungeon and a chapel. A museum is also on site, displaying paintings and items from the entire historical German area. Another interesting piece of information regarding Wartburg is that it gave its name to an automobile manufacturing company, stationed near Eisenach.
The Königstein fortress is located atop a mountain overlooking the river Elbe, next to the town which bears the same name as the citadel. The keep was most likely founded in the 13th century, as a border outpost of the Kingdom of Bohemia. During the 15th century, Königstein became a part of Saxony, retaining its purpose as a fortress protecting the valley of Elbe. It was a 'state of the art' fortress throughout history, always keeping in touch with the latest military trends, and was thus impenetrable, even during 20th century warfare. The castle also grew considerably in size, having 30 buildings in the complex; the Brunenhaus, Georgenburg (dungeon) and the barracks are the most notable ones. Along with the regular military garrison, it was also used as a prison until the early 20th century.
This marvelous palace at Potsdam once belonged to the renowned Prussian king, Frederick the Great, and is a major tourist attraction in modern times (even though visits are limited - only 2,000 people may enter the palace in a single day, so practically the only way to see the interior is to join a guided tour). Sanssouci was built in Rococo style in 1747, serving as the king's summer resort. The palace consists of twelve rooms, with the most impressive being the Konzertsaal (Concert Hall), Mramorhalle (Marble Hall) and the Bibliothek (library). The nearby Bildegalerie (Picture Gallery) contains many baroque pieces of art, and is well worth a visit if you're an admirer of the visual arts.
This lovely baroque palace, built by Arnold Nering and later expanded by Eosander von Göthe, originally carried the name of Litzenburg, but Friedrich III of Brandenburg made it into his summer palace and gave it its current name, honoring his deceased wife Charlotte. The Altes Schloss (Old Palace) contains the extravagant residence of Friedrich I, and is the most spectacular part of the mansion, with many other exquisite halls such as the Oak Gallery, Porcelain Hall and Oval Hall, as well as numerous tapestries and miscellaneous items. Friedrich the Great added a new wing to the palace, where the prettiest rooms can be found - the White Hall, the Concert Hall and the Golden Gallery. There is also a museum within the premises of the old theater, portraying European cultural progress from Palaeolithic to medieval times. The lush palace garden is a good place to take a break, since you will require a whole day to fully explore this huge complex.
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| Burg Hohenzollern |
This impressive castle was the home of the Hohenzollern family, rulers of Prussia and Brandenburg until early 20th century. The original fortress was built in the 11th century atop Mt Hohenzollern, but it was razed in 1423 after a Swabian siege that lasted for 10 months. A new, bigger castle was erected in 1461, which served the Hohenzollerns until late 18th century when its maintenance was stopped and the castle was reduced to a shadow of its former self. Today's neo-Gothic incarnation of the fort was built in 1867 by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. A marvelous treasury is one of the castle's highlight, along with the Crown of Wilhelm II, the last Prussian Crown Prince, who is buried in the fortress, and Frederick the Great's personal belongings. Weather permitting, the peak of Mt Hohenzollern offers an excellent view of the surrounding landscape, making it possible to see the Alps.
Ruins of Schloss Heidelberg, located above the Old Quarter of the city of Heidelberg, present one of the most significant Renaissance castles in the region. Construction of the fort began in the early 13th century, initially intending to build two castles, and today's version of the castle was finished in 1650. The Schloss was, oddly enough, struck by lightning twice, causing significant damage. An elaborate courtyard, clearly built in the Renaissance style, is quite amazing, contrasting the ruined interior of the castle. A serene garden can be found at the back side of the castle, where you will surely appreciate the beautiful environment. Deutsches Apothekenmuseum, a museum presenting the sciences of pharmacology and chemistry throughout history, is located near the ruins, with two enormous vats in the vicinity (the larger one has a capacity of 220,000 liters!).
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| Burg Rheinfels, a ruined castle in Germany |
This once powerful fort, built in 1245 by Count Diether V and destroyed in 1796 by French revolutionary troops, is now a ruin for the most part, although some structures have been turned into a luxury wellness complex. Burg Rheinfels, with its maze-like construction style is the largest castle ruin in the Rhine valley, and the sight of it will surely entice you to explore its tunnels and partially destroyed buildings.
Castle Marksburg, located above the town of Braubach among many lush gardens and vineyards, is a beautiful sight. It was constructed in 1117, and many noblemen were exchanging ownership of the keep throughout its history, each of them adding to its appearance. The fortress has never been conquered, thanks to redundant layers of fortified areas, and is very well preserved, making it possible for tourists to feel the authentic aura of the Middle Ages.
This picturesque Romanesque-Gothic fort, located in lush hills that stand above the river Moselle, has been owned by the same family since the 12th century, when it was constructed. Its colorful towers, 30 to 40 meters tall, paint a picture from childhood in every visitor's mind, as it truly looks like it came out of a cartoon or a fairytale. The fortifications only add to this appearance, but they were also quite functional for defense during medieval times. The majority of the castle, which has over a hundred rooms, is divided into three parts, each owned by the corresponding family heirs.
Speaking of fairytale castles, it can be said for Schloss Neuschwanstein that it actually is one - it was the model for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty's castle representations in Disneyland. Construction of the most famous castle in the world started in the 19th century by Ludwig II of Bavaria, who drew inspiration from Richard Wagner's works, but the schloss was never completely finished. Palatial highlights include the Knight's House and the Throne Room, marvelously decorated with mosaics reminiscent of Byzantine times. Tribute to the mythical Swan Knight, Lohengrin, a character from a Wagner's opera, is apparent throughout the entire palace, which has many motifs of knights and fantasy. It is forbidden to take pictures of its interior, but that certainly does not deter the army of tourists that visit it daily (records state that approx. 1,3 million people per year visit this location). The surrounding countryside offers excellent hiking opportunities; the most popular route includes a visit to the magnificent Pöllat Gorge and the nearby waterfall.
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| Schloss Linderhof |
The 19th century Schloss Linderhof is relatively small, and represents one of three palaces built by King Ludwig II. Arguably, it was modeled after Versailles, a theory supported by Ludwig's infatuation with Louis XIV, the French king who built the famous French palace. Linderhof is a magical place, surrounded by amazing landscape, such as the marvelous, green forest, lovely gardens, beautiful sculptures and playful fountains. This particular palace was used as a quiet refuge, which explains its diminutive size, with interiors decorated by mythical scenes. There are only four functional rooms - the Hall of Mirrors, a beautiful room with parallel mirrors, a bedchamber, which was the largest room, a dining room and an audience chamber. Among other highlights, mention should be made of the Moorish Kiosk, a room decorated in Asian style with a peacock throne, used for entertainment, and the Venus Grotto, an artificial cave constructed in homage to Wagner's Tannhäuser.
This magnificent palace is the largest one built by Ludwig II, having all the characteristics typical of the 19th century Bavarian ruler. The construction of the complex cost a fortune, but that did not seem to bother the eccentric monarch too much; he spent less than two weeks within the premises. In fact, there was not enough money to finish the building, so the majority of rooms were left unfinished. As far as those who were finished are concerned, however, saying that they were extravagant would be an understatement - they were decorated with lavish frescoes, beautiful candelabras and candle-lit chandeliers, grandiose staircases and large sets of mirrors. Unlike Versailles, after which the palace was modeled, Herrenchiemsee was equipped with bathrooms and toilets, and was constructed on an island. Palace gardens go hand in hand with the rest of the complex, having beautiful sculptures of fantastic creatures, lush green areas and lovely fountains. A museum which holds many possessions of King Ludwig II is also located on site.
The Baroque Würzburg Residence, constructed in 1744, was designed by several distinguished French and Austrian architects, while the interior frescoes were made by Venetian artists. Much of the palace was destroyed in 1945, during WWII, and it took over 30 years of reconstruction and a lot of funding to return it to the original state. A grand staircase, vaulted ceilings, the neoclassical White Hall with white stucco ornaments, the Imperial Hall decorated with colorful stucco details and pictures, the Mirror Cabinet with glass panels, the Green Lacquered Room with metallic green decorations and the Court Garden are the most beautiful highlights of the great palace, which has more than 400 rooms in total. There is also a Court Chapel on the site, a marvelous building constructed in such a way as to give an illusion of space with its curved walls and domes, and an adjacent museum, displaying the sculptures of Peter Wagner.
