Vacations at Rheinfels Castle - high above St. Goar

If stones could talk, this medieval castle - built in 1245 - would have a lot to tell. The imposing ruins and a maze of underground passages, which are still accessible today, bear witness to the past, when the fortress was the most important on the Rhine. Today it houses a romantic castle hotel. Rooms and suites are lovingly furnished - perfect for a relaxing vacation at the castle. Culinary events such as the historic "Crime Banquet" are also highlights. If you want to explore the surrounding area on foot, you can do so on the right bank of the Rhine on the Rheinsteig or on the left bank of the Rhine on the Rhein-Burgen-Weg.

Vacations at Reichmannsdorf Castle: the heart of Franconia

Around 300 years ago, this masterpiece of Franconian Baroque was built by master builder Johann Dientzenhofer in Schlüsselfeld. Spared from wars and plundering, it can still be admired today in all its splendor. The location, in the middle of the extensive park (with an 18-hole golf course!), which in turn is embedded in the idyllic Steigerwald landscape, is also a dream. The guest rooms of the castle hotel are located in the elegant new building, while the restaurant is housed in the castle's vaults.

Anholt moated castle: Idyll in the Münsterland

The picturesque moated castle with its magnificent park is located close to the Dutch border. Different eras of garden art - such as French-style pleasure gardens - make a walk through the grounds a special experience. The moated castle has been the headquarters of the Salm-Salm princely family since 1811 and has also housed a castle hotel since 1968. And the museum section houses the largest private collection of paintings in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Vacations at Ralswiek Castle: sea air and romance on Rügen

Ralswiek was once an important maritime trading center and is considered the oldest settlement on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. For a long time, the castle was owned by various noble families. In 1893, factory owner Hugo Sholto Count Douglas had it built in the style of French Renaissance castles. Today, vacations in the castle are the order of the day - and hotel guests and visitors to the restaurant are pampered to their heart's content. The magnificent panoramic terrace overlooks the Störtebeker Festival stage (program from June to September) and the Great Jasmund Bodden.

Wartburg Castle - former seat of the landgraves of Thuringia

The landmark of the tranquil town of Eisenach is world-famous because Luther translated the New Testament here. The main part of the castle from the 12th century is one of Germany's best-preserved secular buildings from the late Romantic period. The half-timbered buildings and the attached battlements of the curtain wall date from the 14th and 15th centuries. In addition to the hotel, the museum in the rooms of the Neue Kemenate and the Dirnitz (19th century) is a major visitor attraction. The Luther Room can be visited in the bailiwick. This vacation at the castle is an all-round experience for the whole family!

Amerang: idyll in the Chiemgau foothills of the Alps

Here, close to the border with Austria, is a real gem and a monument to different eras. There is, for example, the originally Romanesque chapel, later extended in Gothic style, rooms in Baroque, Rococo or Wilhelminian style. The lords of the castle - the Barons of Crailsheim - stand for a long family tradition and an extensive cultural offering. Concerts and theater performances take place in the castle courtyard with its Renaissance arcades and excellent acoustics. The castle museum offers insights into 1,000 years of Bavarian aristocratic history. Another special feature is the stud farm. A truly royal vacation at the castle!

Ortenberg: fairytale castle in the vineyards of Baden

The origins of the complex go back to a Zähringer castle from the 11th/12th century. Rebuilt in neo-Gothic style after its destruction in the 17th century, the main building has been used as a youth hostel for over 70 years, although the upper castle courtyard and the tower complex are open to all visitors. The Juhe in the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park is particularly popular with families as a domicile for a castle vacation - and not just because of its unique natural surroundings. Europapark Rust is just around the corner, perfect for a day trip.

Colditz - a gem on the Zwickauer Mulde

Given away, inherited, burnt down, rebuilt - one of the most beautiful architectural monuments in Central Germany looks back on an eventful history. During the Second World War, it gained international fame as a prisoner of war camp. Winston Churchill's nephew was also imprisoned here. An escape museum provides information about the details and the most sensational escape attempts from this period. The Europa Youth Hostel is housed in another wing of the castle. If you are looking for a bit of culture while on vacation in the castle: Concerts are regularly held in the Hofstube (2nd courtyard).