On our recent trip to Southern Germany, I was blown away by the number and age of various nearby castles.  There are a few that I knew would be in the area as they are commonly photographed, but I was impressed with the amount of history in this area.

The Hohenzollern Palace of Sigmaringen was the first castle we toured.  As with many types of museums, we received listening devices in our respective languages and enjoyed a tour at our own pace.  The tour took nearly an hour and showcased about 20 rooms.

The front entrance was almost tucked away.  The entire structure is huge and set in a quaint village, but finding the entrance took some guidance.

Once inside, there was much to see.  Beautiful staircases guide you around the corridors bringing you to elaborate rooms showcasing amazing artwork.

Including nearly 3,000 rare exhibits, this palace contains one of the largest private weapons and armor collections in Europe.  Guests can experience almost 700 years of history by looking through the arms displays, which have been drawing crowds for the past 300 years. 

This area is completely walkable, so once we parked the car in a parking area, we were on foot the rest of the time.  After touring the castle, we stopped at a nearby café to recharge and people-watch in the quaint town.  Then we headed across a bridge to a park where visitors could view of the entire castle structure.  Our day to visit was a bit rainy, so the time outside was more limited, but the views were amazing, and we could have stayed there all day on a warmer, dryer visit.

I can only imagine how imposing this place would have looked hundreds of years ago.  It’s still impressive, jutting out from the rock underneath, but it has been built up with many structures and businesses near the base.  The pond and waterway nearby offer visitors a great view of ducks and swans as joggers pass by or families take their little ones for a stroll.  The tour offered us a glimpse into this castle, but I can only imagine how grand the entire building was at the height of its function.

Later in our trip, we took a ride to a famous area that everyone seems to identify as Southern Germany.  Neuschwanstein Castle is an iconic structure that is quite notably photographed.

Additionally, just down the road is Hohenschwangau Castle, which is bright yellow.  We didn’t go into either castle, but hiked around and enjoyed the view.  Getting to Neuschwanstein was especially challenging.  There is a nice paved road that visitors can walk up, but it is a long way uphill.  The view along the way is gorgeous, and after you reach the top, visitors can cross a small bridge to get the iconic photos you see in magazines:

Another castle we toured was the Meersburg Castle.  Located in Meersburg (of course), this location is right on the edge of Lake Constance and a beautiful setting for a fortress.  This is a smaller structure than others we have seen, but the location is amazing.

Inside, the rooms were smaller, and cold, with few furnishings, but I feel this would have been exactly how it felt centuries ago.  I would imagine that cool air coming off the lake would have kept the inside feeling chilly all year round.  You could see many wooden artifacts that have been damaged through time, but it is amazing to see the original pieces.

I had no idea there were so many castles to see, as we were only in one general region of Germany.  If I ever get the chance to go back, I know there are many more amazing historical structures to tour!