Hohenzollern Castle is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful in the world. This fabulous place is located high in the mountains, its battlements and turrets rise above the cliff and are often covered with fog, for which it received the nickname "castle in the clouds".
History of the Hohenzollern castle
The modern castle is already the third in history. The first mentions of this medieval fortress, probably built in the 11th century, were found in 1267. After a year's siege in 1423, the troops of the Swabian League conquered the castle and then destroyed it.
The second building was erected in 1454. In 1634 it was conquered by the troops of Württemberg and temporarily occupied. After the war, it was largely in the possession of the Habsburgs, before being captured by French forces in 1745 during the Austrian War of Succession. The war ended, the Hohenzollern Castle lost its significance and fell into disrepair years later. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was destroyed, since that time only a significant part of the chapel of St. Michael has survived.
The idea of reconstructing the castle came to the mind of the then Crown Prince and then to King Frederick William IV, when he wanted to know the roots of his origin and climbed the mountain in 1819.
The castle in its current form was erected by the works of the famous architect F.A. Stüler. As a student and successor of K.F. Schinkel, in 1842 he was appointed by the king as the chief designer of the castle. The building is a typical example of the neo-gothic. On September 3, 1978, the Hohenzollern Castle was badly damaged by a strong earthquake. Some of the turrets collapsed and the knightly figures toppled over. Restoration work continued until the 90s.
Modern history and features
The castle rises on a hill at 855 meters and still belongs to the descendants of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Due to numerous reconstructions, its architecture does not look solid. Wilhelm lived here during the Second World War with his wife, as his estate was captured by the troops of the Soviet Union; here they are buried.
Since 1952, paintings, documents, old letters, jewelry and other artifacts belonging to the dynasty have been brought here. Here is kept the crown, which all the kings of Prussia proudly wore, as well as a letter from D. Washington, in which he thanks Baron von Steuben for his help in the war of independence.
Chapels
Hohenzollern Castle houses chapels of three Christian denominations:
Hohenzollern Castle Guided Tour and Activities
A standard excursion inside the fortress includes a tour of the rooms and other ceremonial rooms, which contain antique furniture and personal belongings of a German family. The walls are decorated with unique tapestries, the dressing gowns of the kings and the Prussian Queen Lisa hang in the wardrobes, the tables are decorated with porcelain.
Fans of mysticism can walk through the dungeon, in which a mysterious rumble is heard from time to time. Locals are sure that this is a ghost trick, although it is probably just the noise of the air moving along the narrow corridors.
The castle has its own restaurant "Burg Hohenzollern", which serves national dishes, delicious beer, snacks and desserts. In the summer, a beautiful beer courtyard opens up, where you can enjoy an outdoor meal.
At the beginning of December, the magnificent Royal Christmas Market with concerts, bazaars and entertainment events is held here, which is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting in all of Germany. Children can enter it free of charge, admission for adults costs 10 €.
How much time to plan to visit?
The large area of the Hohenzollern Castle will hardly leave you indifferent, so we recommend leaving at least three hours to explore it. If you buy a ticket with a visit to the castle rooms, then allocate at least four hours for inspection, as there is a lot of interesting things inside. Also consider the bus schedule. A leisurely stroll through the surroundings and chambers of the magnificent castle overlooking the Swabian Alps will be a pleasure.
How to get there
Hohenzollern is located in Baden-Württemberg near the town of Hechingen and fifty kilometers from the large industrial city of Stuttgart. The address of the attraction is 72379 Burg Hohenzollern.
We recommend seeing Windsor Castle.
How to get there from Munich? First, you have to get to Stuttgart from the München Hbf station, trains to this city run every two hours.
How to get there from Stuttgart? Head to Stuttgart Hbf Train Station. The Ineregio-Express train runs five times a day, the ticket costs about 40 €, the travel time is 1 hour 5 minutes.
From Tübingen, which is 28 kilometers from the castle, trains run to Heringen once or twice an hour. Travel time - 25 minutes, cost - 4.40 €. Heringen is located four kilometers northwest of the castle. A bus runs from here to the castle, which will take you directly to its foot. The fare is 1.90 €.
Entrance ticket and opening hours
Hohenzollern Castle is open every day, except on the eve of Christmas - December 24. From mid-March to the end of October, the opening hours are from 9:00 to 17:30. From early November to March, the castle is open from 10:00 to 16:30. Taking photos inside the fortress is prohibited.
Entrance fees fall into two categories:
- Category I: castle complex without interior rooms.
Adult - 7 €, children (6-17 years old) - 5 €. - Category II: castle complex and visits to castle rooms:
Adult - 12 €, children (6-17) - 6 €.
There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy paintings, books, china, toys and postcards, a copy of local wine.
