What a great historical landmark! The directions to the castle led us the wrong way, but we…read moreultimately figured it out. Once we got to the top, we walked around, took some photos and admired the view of the town from the top of the castle ruins.

Fantastic true Frankenstein Castle with the graveyard located at the base of the mountain on top of…read morewhich the castle arises from a natural rocky outcropping. You can see the black scorch marks where the castle burned and Frankenstein fell five stories when the floors collapsed inside the main castle structure. Wild approach through a tiny tunnel. Easy to miss the access point. Looks like you can't get up there but you can! Long healthy hike up hill that will make you feel great when you reach the castle on top. Goats run out to greet you as you walk up the hill. Park at the front of the church. Then start walking. One of the most exciting experiences you will ever have!

Castle on the hill. There was a wedding wrapping up as we arrived - this is a great venue for a…read morewedding You have to pay for parking but that €1,50 can be used at the restaurant at the bottom of the hill - we indulged so wasn't all bad The walk up the hill takes 20 minutes or so & while it's not steep or treacherous, it does make one a bit winded. There are benches at the switchbacks to take a break & believe me, I did. €4,50 to get inside the proper grounds & there is a small church, a tower and a room of the king's chambers......all accessible by additional stairwells. Supposedly Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner here for a while so there's a rumored claim to fame Luckily, the valley below is breathtaking and there were a lot of paragliders using the nearby hills to launch - made the view even better So for a nice hiking-like opportunity and a lovely view, this place is A-OK

The German word "Schloss" is very efficient. It can mean castle, palace, chateau and even…read more"padlock." This can be confusing when you're looking for old castles to explore and wind up at what is more accurately described as a large manor. When I arrived at Schwetzingen Schloss I was surprised that it wasn't more of a castle, but it's vast, beautiful landscape and interesting history made me glad I had come. Like most old buildings and grand constructions, Schwetzigen Schloss started as a place to entertain the constituents of a rich, influential man. The striking statues, winding paths and ornate buildings really make it hard to not be impressed. I imagine arriving here from a smaller village in Germany, unable to even see the other side of the enormous garden. There are a few different buildings which each had their own purpose, which through the years had changed. My favorite was the Orangerie, a tropical greenhouse of sorts. The ingenuity of these past Germans will surprise you, and their method to produce an Orange where an Orange has no business growing is really something. Wandering in between buildings you may find yourself enjoying the journey at least as much as the destination. I found many little "dead ends" which were so comfortable it was hard not to take out a book and enjoy the serenity for a while. Symmetry is the name of the game here, and I encourage you to stop at every intersection and look around. You'll likely notice that someone paid very close attention to angles and lines. This makes for a remarkably sane experience as you are almost unable to get lost. The buildings are beautiful, but you might find yourself unable to break away from the calm water, cozy paths, and enveloping nature. I went during Fall. The skies were grey and it was chilly. I know I'm in the minority here but I absolutely recommend you do the same. The colors were indescribably vivid and the calmness of the environment was only enhanced by my girlfriend and I finding ourselves alone more often than not. Usually, most people want to come when it's nice out. (We actually tried to, but it turned into a classic Fall day which, just like the "Schloss", was a surprise that turned out alright) While there is an English brochure available at the beginning which has a handy map, every display I came across had only German writing. Keep that in mind if you aren't with someone who can translate for you, or if your girlfriend doesn't want to read every single sign Luke we have to go it's been 3 hours I don't want to read about Oranges any more. Schwetzingen Schloss isn't a castle, but it's absolutely incredible.

What a neat place to visit! The food was fantastic. We had schnitzel, spaetzle, & an ice berries…read moredessert -- will definitely return!

This castle ruin has been visited by locals and tourists alike for decades. We hadn't visited in…read morequite a few years and stopped by to see if restoration had continued. We visited on a Monday, during the Christmas holidays, so definitely closed. It does look however as if concerts or maybe plays are held here. From the outside we can see stadium seating and the top of a tent that may cover a stage. Definitely check the website for opening dates and times. The views from here are extensive and there are several trails that crisscross the area for both bikes and hikers. There are signs by the castle with instruction on walking with trekking poles and which paths are for bikes. Definitely check those out. A few seating areas overlook the view. A lovely little restaurant has opened behind the castle with outdoor seating during good weather and a cozy, fun interior with good food and service. Staff speak English. Plan to stop by, and call ahead to make a reservation as they fill up! There is some parking by the castle, and some by a hotel down the hill. You can also park at the bottom and hike or bike up. It's a nice little outing for those who enjoy nature.

It was cold cold cold as we drove up the curvy road to the castle and parked the car in a snowy…read moreparking lot. Schloss Lichtenstein is a privately owned castle but it's open for tours. The location dates back to around 1100 and despite being destroyed in twice in the 13th century, a new castle was built adjacent in 1390. It was eventually acquired by King Frederick I of Württemberg in 1802 who rebuilt it into a hunting lodge. The modern castle was added to it in 1840-1842. It has been updated and restored in the 20th century. Despite the cold, it was a clear and dry day. We did the guided tour (in English!) and had a great walk throughout. Our guide pointed out several of the interesting features including the main dining hall, some of the entertainment areas and of course, the tremendous view of the valley. Note that photographs inside the castle are not permitted. The castle is stunning and well worth walking the grounds and trying for a tour. [Review 21243 overall - 247 in Germany - 208 of 2024.]

We were driving from Munich to the edge of France, so this was somewhat at the halfway point, so we…read moreused it as a place to stretch our legs. It is pretty amazing to see it up close, and there are many vantage points on the grounds to view the surrounding countryside. We chose not to do the tour, since it is only given in German and we didn't speak the language, so we just walked around the grounds and took pictures. There was scaffolding up on part of it, but it was still neat to see. There are many better castles in terms of larger grounds, well furnished interiors and tours in English, so I would say go to Coburg or others if you could only go to one. But if you have time to visit other castles on your trip, this is a pretty stop.

This castle is located at the very top of the mountain. We had to drive all the way up and then…read morewalk about 10 minutes to reach it. It's so high that, during the day we visited, we could see the clouds below us. We did a self guided tour, which was fun, going from room to room. Definitely a must see if you're in the area. Even though this castle is in France, it has a distinctly German vibe. It was originally built in the 1200s by the Roman Empire, which covered parts of what is now Germany.

We had a great time touring the castle. Definitely try to head towards the top of hill for parking…read moreas it is a fairly steep walk. Although tons of cars, it wasn't really that crowded inside the castle. €12 each. Beautifully restored with interesting features! A nice visit when in Alsace region.

Wow. The castle is stunning!!!! Our daughter lives in the area and we decided to walked up to the…read morecastle when we visited. It is steep walk up but very doable. It took us less than 10 min to get to the top. The grounds where buzzing with tourists but even tho there where a lot of people it didn't feel crowded. We walked around the grounds for a while and I honestly couldn't get enough of the view! It is out of this world-- it is overlooking beautiful, historic Heidelberg and Neckar river!!! To get the whole experience we opted to tour the ruins and castle courtyard. The 11Euro to go inside the castle is totally worth it. The giant wine barrel in one part of the castle is insane-- it is so big that the is even a dance floor on top of it! Overall, an unforgettable experience and a must-see if you're in the area!

It was quite walk , a 15 mins to climb from downtown square up to the castle. There's alternative…read morethe train round trip. Only setback long line by the time you get to the castle you wasted 30 mins and you have to pay the fee. It was worth the steepest stair and cobble stone walk. The castle was well preserved. Beautiful color scheme of the old wall . Once your on top the entire view of Heidelberg was mesmerizing. Bring water and apply sunblock it was hot this month of visit.

A beautifully maintained castle on the Rhine River, the Burg Reichenstein has a fantastic museum…read moreyou can walk through on your own, complete with a working bowling, alley and even a costume room where you can dress up in medieval garb. The adjoining hotel is wonderful and makes for a perfect wedding venue. The staff here is absolutely incredible and makes the overall experience five-star.

We stayed at the hotel and went to the museum…read more I'll start with the museum. It was fantastic and well worth the €5. The set up lets you wonder around with a map and you're able to explore the castle at your own pace. There aren't many items behind glass which really surprised me, it but made the experience much more authentic. The hotel was great, the breakfast in particular! The room was very modern and comfortable, the only thing that I would change would have been the pillows, they where almost too puffy. The only other down-side I can think of would be that over the summer there isn't any AC to cool down the room.

The food was great at the restaurant that I have been to several times. With top notch service but…read morethe service was not the best today. The waiter Mark was attentive to everyone but us very wierd.

The grounds are stunning! This is a high class vineyard with an amazing restaurant and wine store…read more Limited on site parking is free.

We were here in February, so the gardens are bare, but still a great place for a nice walk…read more We took the English language guided tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, entertaining and very friendly. Disappointed that only a small area was included on the tour. Our guide said that much of the palace was under renovation. I really enjoyed the collection of clothing - this was very unusual and interesting.

As a study-abroad-student back in the 90s, I spent a good six weeks, or so, living in…read moreaccommodations just a stone's throw away from the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace. The residence, initially built as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Wuerttemberg, Eberhard Ludwig, in 1704, was expanded upon throughout the first few decades of the 18th century, and, eventually replaced the palace in Stuttgart as the residence of the royal family of Wuerttemberg. It is a gem to behold. There is much to see both around the grounds of the palace and inside the palace itself. Years ago, I had taken a tour of the palace interior, but had forgotten both its beauty and deep history. Some rooms have been preserved in the original baroque style-opulent parquet flooring and gold accented walls-but most other rooms had had their baroque flourish covered up with somewhat demure wall paper and (in my opinion) rather unimaginative wood flooring in later years. The building is surrounded by well-manicured grounds which then bleed out into, sort of, more wild bits and overlap with the Maerchen Park that has become a part of the Bluehendes Barock* experience one undertakes when purchasing an entry ticket to tour the palace grounds only. The Maerchen Park is home to a small variety of anamatronic fairytale figures that are both known and not to non-German audiences. As one attempts to open the gate of the Gingerbread House the witch living inside looks out through her curtains and speaks sinister words to you! At the tower of Rapunzel children cry out, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let your hair down!" And she does! Also housed within the palace is an amazingly extensive ceramics museum charting the rise of pottery in Germany from Bartmann jugs to Meissen tea sets. Unbeknownst to me, Ludwigsburg porcelain was and is of some renown. I'd imagine that Karl Eugen and his ilk were sipping tea out of Ludwigsburger tea cups back in the day... During our look-see of the museum, we were able to spy a, sort of, 'finishing room' where folk were placing unfinished jugs on open shelving units. Ooooh! If one is keen on buying the finished product, then pop on into the ceramics shops also on the palace grounds. A tea cup and saucer might cost you somewhere in the range of 200 euro. *Flowering Baroque: a beautiful garden show within the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Residenzschloss. If a trip to Germany includes parts of the SW, then I would strongly suggest a trip to the palace in Ludwigsburg. Bonus: the first King of Wuerttemberg, Friedrich der Dicke, is the grandfather (x8) of our Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.