Counting down Bavaria’s top 10 castles

09.09.2024 - 21:29 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 9, 2024 • 6 min read

Is Bavaria the castle capital of Europe? With Disney-worthy piles, medieval masterpieces, evocative ruins and much more, the grand palaces of this southern German state run the gamut of styles, with the stories of kings, dukes and noble families who called these structures home rounding out the fairy-tale feel.

From historic cities to remote villages, large lakes to the foothills of the Alps, these are the 10 best castles all over Bavaria.  

Best castle to scratch off your bucket list  

Certainly Germany’s most famous castle and arguably the most famous one in the world, this complex close to the town of Füssen attracts over a million visitors every year and is said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Built for Bavaria’s so-called “Mad King” Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein was conceived by a set designer rather than a traditional architect, and served as a private retreat for the reclusive royal. On the exterior, enchanting turrets reach up the sky; inside, chandeliers, rich textiles, intricate carvings and frescoes reflect the king’s obsession with German mythology, especially as interpreted by the great composer Richard Wagner, a beneficiary of Ludwig’s patronage. 

Best castle for a counterpoint to Neuschwanstein

Schloss Hohenschwangau is the neo-Gothic-style neighbor of Neuschwanstein, built between 1833 and 1837 by Maximilian II (Ludwig II’s father). Developed on a site of ruins left by knights from Schwangau, the splendid yellow structure was the summer and hunting residence for the family, and where young Ludwig spent much of his youth. Indeed, some scholars believe it sowed the seeds for his ambitious projects later in life. Today, you can take 10 rooms over three floors on a 45-minute tour, easily combined with a visit to Neuschwanstein. 

Best castle for a summer adventure 

You’ll find Schloss Herrenchiemsee – only accessible by boat – on an island on Chiemsee, the famous Bavarian lake. A close replica of the Palace of Versailles, it was commissioned by – you guessed it – Ludwig II. While he only spent a few days here before his untimely death in 1886, the project absorbed significant sums of money, with lavish interiors to match. Join a guided tour for a nose around the different rooms, including the Great Hall of Mirrors and the extravagant sleeping quarters, and learn more about the king in a museum dedicated to his life. 

Best city-center castle  

Once one of the most important Imperial palaces in the Holy Roman Empire, with every emperor residing here during their reign, Kaiserburg Nuremberg sits on a sandstone ridge in the historical heart of Nuremberg. Almost completely destroyed during WWII, the building was rebuilt and restored to its former glory after the