This Beautiful European Storybook Castle Feels Like Being Transported Into A Fairy Tale
You could shoot a live-action “Cinderella” movie at Hohenzollern Castle without changing a thing. The turrets look perfect. The pointed spiers and crenellated walls are exactly what you’d expect from a fairytale fortress. Naturally, it sits atop a mountain, also called Hohenzollern, draped in dense forest. From these ramparts you can see miles of countryside stretching out below. Place Hohenzollern next to the castle in the middle of Disney’s Magic Kingdom and they clearly share the same aesthetic. Yet this elegant citadel lies in Baden-Württemberg, a largely rural state in southwestern Germany.
Central Europe has no shortage of spectacular castles, like these three popular castles in Dornburg, offering stunning views of the Saale River. Some estimate that there are 25,000 castles in Germany alone, dating from many eras and in varied physical states; some are vague outlines in the ground, others are actively occupied by their current owners.
However, Hohenzollern occupies a special place in the pantheon: more than 300,000 people visit the site each year, making it one of the most popular German castles. Visitors can tour the park, admire the architecture, and take in majestic views. But you can’t stay there; Unlike many European castles that have been converted into hotels and wedding halls, Hohenzollern is still owned by the family that originally built it.
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The legendary past of Hohonzollern Castle
A close-up view of the walls and gates of Hohenzollern Castle – Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock
The castle has a special history, defying expectations at every turn. Formerly the site of a 13th-century fortress, the land long belonged to the Hohenzollerns, a powerful noble family. The Hohenzollern dynasty grew; they originated in Swabia in modern southern Germany and then became important in Prussia (in the northeast).
When Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, then patriarch of the Hohenzollern family, visited the ruins of the fortress in 1819, he decided to build an elegant new palace, as a sort of family seat and homage to his ancestors. The anachronistic design did not resemble that of the older castle, but it absorbed St. Michael’s Chapel, untouched on the mountain since the 1400s. Wilhelm was eventually crowned King William IV, but he died in 1861, a few years before the castle was completed.
It was an eccentric time to build a castle, and Hohenzollern may remind many visitors of Neuschwanstein, one of Europe’s most fascinating cliffside castles that inspired Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Construction of Neuschwanstein also began in the late 1860s, well after the end of the current Middle Ages. However, the man behind Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, met a tragic end: he put his family in debt, was dethroned and drowned at a very young age. On the other hand, the Hohenzollerns still dominate their castle, under the auspices of their descendant Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia.
Getting to Hohenzollern (and what to do there)
From below, the walls of Hohenzollern Castle are illuminated at night – Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
The closest major airport to Hohenzollern Castle is Stuttgart International Airport in the capital of Baden-Württemberg, just 50 minutes away by car. This airport only serves flights to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, so travelers from the Western Hemisphere should expect a transfer or two. You can theoretically get from Stuttgart to the neighboring town of Hechingen via public transport, but the possible routes are a bit slow and complicated – especially by German standards – and you should allow at least two hours. Many visitors can opt for an organized tour or incorporate a visit to Hohenzollern into a road trip through Germany’s famous Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg’s most famous destination.
Although the walk around the castle is the main draw, Hohenzollern also has a sumptuous but affordable restaurant, as well as its own beer garden. The gift shop sells a wide range of aristocratic trinkets, including bottles of authentic Prussian whisky. You’ll find a handful of quality hotels in Hechingen, all costing between $100 and $200 per night, and are within a 10-minute drive of the castle.
The hills of this region are well known for their hiking trails, and Stuttgart has a decent art scene and is home to both the Porsche Museum and the Mercedes-Benz Museum. If you’re looking for something truly unusual in the area, this unique and luxurious restaurant is a treat for your senses.
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