Burg Hohenzollern is one of Germany’s most imposing castles. Each year, it welcomes over 300,000 visitors from around the world. With its many turrets and battlements rising dramatically above the town of Hechingen, it is an architectural masterpiece of the 19th century and a must-see when visiting the region.
Standing at a picturesque location – atop a 234m high mountain surrounded by vast green fields, Hohenzollern Castle is one of its kind. The neo-Gothic stronghold is the ancestral seat of the mighty House of Hohenzollern which ruled over Hohenzollern, Brandenburg, Prussia, the German Empire, and Romania for centuries.
Hohenzollern is one of Germany’s most imposing castles.
Burg Hohenzollern was presumed built in the first decade of the 11th century. But by the 13th century, it was completely destroyed. Its size and appearance, therefore, remain unknown. In 1454, the second Burg Hohenzollern was constructed in the same location, bigger and more fortified than before.
During the Thirty Years War, Hohenzollern Castle was converted into a formidable fortress. However, as a result of repeatedly changing owners, most of the building was neglected and ruined. Only the Chapel of St. Michael remained usable. In 1819, Crown Prince Frederik of Prussia decided to bring glory back to his ancestral seat by reconstructing Burg Hohenzollern. Today, the castle is privately owned by the successor of the Hohenzollern. And the admission fee is used to maintain and renovate the castle.
How to get to Hohenzollern Castle from Stuttgart
- Burg Hohenzollern is located 60 kilometers southwest of Stuttgart. Frequent trains link Stuttgart Hbf with Hechingen Hbf (Duration: 60 minutes). From Hechingen Hbf, take bus 307 to the castle’s car park. The buses are timed to coincide with the trains.
- Baden-Württemberg Ticket is highly recommended for this trip because it grants unlimited travel (both buses and trains) throughout the entire region in one day. Up to five persons can use this ticket. The price starts at 24€ for one person and goes up to 48€ for five people.
- From the car park, you can either hike to the castle (25-30 minutes) or take a van which costs about 3€ for a 10 minutes trip.
Practical Information
- Guided tours take around 35 min. But if you prefer to explore the castle at your own pace (like we did), visit the castle on Royal Castle Stroll Day. On these special days, all the chambers are open and there is a guide in each room, who is ready to answer your questions.
- Drones are forbidden in the area. So the only way to have a panorama view over the castle is to travel to Zeller Horn (the final destination of bus 307), a mini-mountain located southwest of Hechingen. It is cumbersome but the view is really worth a trip.
Fascinating and beautifully done.
Thanks a lot 🙂
Fantastic! Have not touched it though heard of it.
How does the interior of the castle looked like? Did it have many chambers of different themes as some of the other Palace castles?
Yes, it does. But the decoration is not much different either. I think the European royalties have similar taste 🙂 The most impressive chambers are the Grafensaal (the Hall of Earl) and the Treasury where holds the crowns and the royal sceptres 🙂
Haven’t heard of this one, but it looks as though Germany is dotted with castles like this? Very majestic though 🙂
Thank you, Jolene! In the southern and central part of Germany, you will surely find a few castles like this. But in the northern and eastern part, most castles are built either near a lake or a river. Marienburg is an exception 🙂
Trời ơi sao anh đi gần như mỗi tuần vậy! Ghen tị quá TT___TT
Hàng tồn kho từ năm ngoái đó e. Giờ mới đem ra chém. 1/2 đầu của 2017 này phải bế quan viết bài 🙁
Hahaha, làm hết hồn tưởng mỗi tuần anh đều đi chứ, làm em xốn xang quá :-))))
thanks for the tip where to take a panorama view!) This castle is on my list of places to visit in the near future))
I heard that drones are forbidden there and was wondering if it is possible to take a panorama picture from the ground) Now I know 🙂
You welcome 🙂 If you have a car, it will be easier for you. The bus can bring you to Zeller Horn, but there are not so many buses. If you miss one, you will have to wait like hours to return to Hohenzollern or Hechingen. From Zeller Horn, you can also walk to Hohenzollern. But I am not a hiker-type so it is not an option for me 🙂
unfortunately I don’t even have a driving licence to rent a car 🙁
But I love hiking! so it could be an option for me)))
It look not so far from Zeller Horn, and the terrains is not so challenging. But I don’t know exactly how long it will take. Maybe you can tell me someday 🙂
What fantastic photos, Len! I am happy to have stumbled across your blog. Also thank you for the follow. Looking forward to some more browsing here. Cheers.
I also realised as I read your profile that I am talking to a camera. Conversations with a camera is indeed a first for me.
Haha a camera that can response 🙂 Unique, am I? Well, not many people realized that Len is a camera. But I don’t want to make my readers confused so it is fine to call me Len. Because I often travel alone so I humanized my camera so that it can be my companion. It is also easier for me to write as “we” than as “I”.
Thanks for your compliments! I really appreciate it. I am glad to find your blog as well. Skillfully written content, with great photos and a lot of useful tips. Looking forward to read more in the future! Cheers 😉
Well I cannot fight the uniqueness of a talking camera, eh. Thank you for the lovely words 🙂 Time to travel through each other’s blogs then. Cheers.
Nửa sau 2017 anh có đi đâu khg? Nếu tiện đường có thể hội ngộ 😀
Hehe tháng 6 này ba mẹ a sang nên làm tour Đông Âu: Ba Lan, Czech, Hungaria, Áo các kiểu 🙂 Mấy chỗ này e đi hết rồi. Còn sau khi nộp bài thì chưa biết. Còn tùy vào budget haha. Nếu còn nhiều đạn chúng ta có thể hội ngộ ở Oslo 😀 Thế e với hubby có plan gì chưa?
What incredible photographs, Len! I am upbeat to have unearthed your blog. Additionally thank you for the take after. Anticipating some all the more perusing here. Cheers…
Thanks a lot for the compliment! It is great to hear that you like my blog 🙂 Thanks for following and I hope I can bring you better content in the future. Cheers!
Beautiful!!! Love your pics 🙂 there is sometjing incredibly romantic about South Germany.
I agree! Its combination of nature and castles is totally different than what we do have here in the North. It appears more dramatic and somehow, as you said, incredibly romantic.
What fabulous photographs, Len! I am cheerful to have discovered your blog. Likewise thank you for the take after.
Thanks! It is very kind of you 🙂
Beautiful castle. I was very close this year to travelling to Stuttgart. But I was not aware until now of this amazing castle. The list of “things to see” has grown:)
Haha, I am glad that I can “extend” your list 😉
Wonderful photos of this almost ‘fairy tale’ place. thank you.
Thank you! I am glad that you like it 🙂
Your panoramic view photo looks like something out of a fairytale with the castle perfectly perched upon that hill. I never grow weary of seeing Germany’s castles. Spectacular!
I agree with you 🙂 The Germans are really good in building castles. They could build at very challenging position, such as hill tops, small islands, etc. And the castles are still standing after all this years.
Spectacular photography !
Cô chưa hề đến castle này, chỉ đến Neuschwanstein Castle. Vào mùa Thu nên vàng đỏ khắp nơi.
Germany đẹp thật, cô vẫn còn tấm tắc mãi về nơi ấy.
Neuschwanstein vào mùa thu thì tuyệt vời rồi ạ! Lâu đài trắng trên nền lá đỏ vàng. Cháu đi đầu hè nên chỉ có một màu xanh thôi. Thực sự muốn xem lâu đài vào mùa đông khi phủ tuyết trắng 🙂
A very impressive fortress and it sounds like a great day trip from Stuttgart. Commanding views and that last panorama is fabulous.I should think that panorama view of the fortress is essential if you’re going to visit this area.
Yes, it is 🙂 I took extra hours to go there just because of the view. Not many tourists go there, so you can enjoy the view without much obstacles.
Beautiful view of the castle!
Thank you! The way to get there is a bit challenging, especially when you don’t have a car. But the view is worth it 🙂
Absolutely stunning. I have long wanted to visit this place. As usual Len your photos are fabulous.
Alison
Thanks for the kind words, Alison 🙂