A castle stands on a rock surrounded by autumnal trees. A wooden bridge leads to the castle, which has several small towers and is made of stone.

© DZT, Foto: Francesco Carovillano

Castles & Gardens in Southwest GermanyFar too Fabulous to Be True

Fairytale Palaces, Knights' Castles and Majestic Stories It Could Hardly Be More Beautiful

The world famous Heidelberg Castle. The breathtaking view from Hohenzollern Castle, the fairytale castle of the Prussian royal family. There are so many castles and palaces here! The medieval walls, baroque palaces and magnificent gardens will tell you how the princess or count once lived. If you are lucky, you might even meet the great-great-grandson of the last emperor or exiled king. He might personally reveal a juicy detail or two about the famous ancestors. There is no more authentic way to experience history.
A castle on a green wooded mountain.

© DZT, Foto: Francesco-Carovillano

Hohenzollern Castle in the Swabian Alb
Dreaming is easy with this view

Castles, Gardens, and Monasteries to Dream aboutAt a Glance

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Majestic Palaces

Southwest Germany presents world-famous castles and fortresses. Let the lesser-known historical sites like Schwetzingen Palace or Meersburg Castle enchant you as well.
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Taking a Stroll

Our gardens are as magnificent as our palaces, from small and intimate to extensive palace gardens and parks. A perfect feast for the senses.
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Monastic Heritage

The most famous monastery is the Cistercian Abbey of the medieval Maulbronn Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Top Castles in Southwest GermanyWhere Fairy Tales Come True

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Bebenhausen Monastery and Castle
The medieval monastery complex of Bebenhausen is nestled in the rolling hills of the Schönbuch Nature Park. Some of the buildings were converted into a royal hunting lodge in the 19th century.
Swabian Alb09:00
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Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle is world famous and the epitome of the German Romantic era.
Heidelberg09:00
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Meersburg New Palace
Besides baroque garden architecture offers the park at the New Palace Meersburg a fantastic view of the lake.
Lake Constance10:00
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Hohenzollern Castle
With battlements and towers, this castle looks straight out of a storybook. The Neo-Gothic complex dates from 19th century, but there has been a fortress here for almost 1,000 years.
Swabian Alb10:00
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Mannheim Baroque Palace
Fancy feeling like an Elector for once? In Mannheim, that dream becomes reality.
Mannheim10:00
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Palace
Schwetzingen Castle dates back to the 14th century, when the von Schomberg family provided the then moated castle to Count Palatine Ruprecht. In the following centuries, the area around the castle was...
Schwetzingen09:00
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Sigmaringen Castle
Standing high on a cliff above the Danube, Schloss Sigmaringen was built as a fortress. Over the centuries, it has been transformed into a royal residential palace, complete with fairytale towers and...
Upper Swabia-Allgäu09:30
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Lichtenstein Castle
Lichtenstein Castle is also known as the 'fairytale castle of Württemberg', as its architectural style and furnishings are reminiscent of the Romantic period. Thus, it sees itself as a homage to the M...
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The Old Bridge above the Neckar River in Heidelberg. Heidelberg Castle can be seen in the background.

© TMBW, Foto: Achim Mende

The Mannheim Baroque Palace with its huge forecourt.

© TMBW, Foto: Achim Mende

Weikersheim Palace and Palace Gardens. In the foreground is a large fountain with a statue. The castle is in the background.

© SSG, Foto: Günther Bayerl

Drone shot of Hohenzollern Castle with its towers. You can see the castle courtyard and the trees in front of it. A copper beech stands out. A village can be recognised in the distance.

© Black Forest Production GmbH

View of Sigmaringen Castle. The Danube flows in the foreground.

© TMBW, Foto: Dietmar Denger

The baroque library hall of Wiblingen Abbey in Obeschwaben-Allgäu with magnificent paintings on the ceiling and massive ornate columns.

© OTG, Foto: Frank Müller

Echoes of past glory
– Heidelberg Castle and the Old Bridge
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