Замок левенбург в германии: (Schloss Löwenburg) —

Замок Левенбург. История старинного замка Германии | Интересное | Журнал | RETROBAZAR

16, Февраль 2013 10:31 | 18 фото | просмотров 20581

Замок Левенбург — старинный замок, также называемый львиным замком. Он находится в немецком городке Кассел и является самой яркой его достопримечательностью. Замок располагается на 92-метровой горе Баварии, в парке Вильгельмшолль. Он был спроектирован по заказу Вильгельма IX архитектором Генрихом Кристофом, имеющим подобный опыт работы во Франции, Англии и Италии.
Информации о Левенбурге не там много, как о других, более известных замках Германии. Он не обладает длинной историей, но при этом заслуженно занял место в списке самых красивых замков страны.
Левенбург – достаточно молодое строение, возведенное в XVII столетии, хотя многие относят его к средневековому замку. Рядом с дворцом располагается оружейная комната, где можно найти оружие и броню XV-XVI столетий, и часовня, в которой располагается могила основателя замка. Идейным вдохновителем замка-подделки является сам Вильгельм IX, поручивший архитектору возвести строение, которое можно было бы сравнить с английскими средневековыми дворцами. Замок выглядит как настоящая крепость, хотя на самом деле ничем подобным не является. Для осуществления задумки Вильгельма IX, архитектору специально пришлось ехать в Англию, для более детального изучения романтичных руин Английских крепостей, и составления плана постройки великолепного Левенберга и прилегающего к нему сада.
История
Левенбург с его прекрасными башнями выглядит настоящим замком из рыцарских романов или европейских сказок, он был построен в конце 18 века архитектором Генрихом Кристофом Юссовом на месте встреч Вильгельма IX с его любовницей Каролиной фон Шлотхайм и затем стал местом его захоронения. Окончив свой земной путь, ландграф упокоился в склепе под часовней по своему собственному желанию. Замок находится в уникальном горном природном парке Вильгельмшолль в Касселе, Германия, на холме высотой 92 метра в Баварских Альпах. Замок считается одним из первых значительных образцов неоготики в Германии и служит узнаваемой эмблемой для компании, выпускающей детские фильмы.
Левенбург отличается от великолепного баварского замка Нойшванштайн в том, что касается архитектуры, но это не означает, что Левенбург менее красив и драматичен. Сегодня Левенбург представляет собой, скорее, имитацию замка, окруженного руинами, но он по-прежнему способен предложить незабываемое путешествие во времени.
Архитектор Генрих Кристоф Юссов трудился над возведением Левенбурга с 1793 по 1801 год, спустя столетия с тех пор, как в Германии на самом деле строили замки (с наступлением эпохи Возрождения состоятельные и знатные заказчики стали предпочитать замкам дворцы). Это был очень популярный архитектор с обширными знаниями, который работал не только на родине, но и за рубежом, во Франции, Италии и Англии. Юссов специально совершил поездку по Великобритании для изучения английских романтических развалин, чтобы возвести вокруг Левенбурга большой прекрасный сад. Эта имитация средневекового замка изначально отвечала скорее романтическим, чем историческим представлениям о Средневековье и сознательно была построена в виде искусственных руин. Первоначально вообще планировалось возвести только полуразрушенную башню с пристройкой, но в конечном итоге на холме появился полный замок, сгруппированный вокруг внутреннего двора. В 1945 году британская и союзническая авиация совершила несколько налетов на Кассель, который благодаря своему оборонно-промышленному комплексу был очень важным городом для военной экономики нацистской Германии. Увы, бомбардировки накрыли и Львиный замок. Он оказался разрушен в значительной степени, осталась только башня с остатками стен, пострадал и сад. В послевоенные годы началась реконструкция Левенбурга, довольно заметно изменившая первоначальный вид замка, и работы еще не закончены.
Левенбург считается одним из самых привлекательных для туристов мест на территории парка Вильгельмшолль, который является в Германии чем-то вроде Диснеевского парка в Токио. Весь комплекс представляет собой прекрасный парк в английском стиле, где можно увидеть не только `средневековую` фальш-крепость, но и такие же искусственные развалины римского акведука, английского замка, греческих храмов и даже поддельную китайскую деревню. Это один из первых в Европе объектов такого рода.
Интерьеры Левенбурга представляли собой уютные княжеские апартаменты, отделанные в соответствии с веяниями эпохи барокко и украшенные многочисленным оружием и доспехами 16 и 17 века, однако большинство исторических коллекций хранится на складах еще со времен Второй мировой войны и вернется в замок только после завершения реконструкции.
Художественно-историческая роль Левенбурга
Левенбург — один из самых красивых замков в мире, который вызывает явные ассоциации с готикой, воздушной и на вид очень древней. Но это своего рода фальшивка. Немецкий ландграф Вильгельм IX Гессенский выстроил его в начале XIX века, вдохновившись средневековой романтикой. Ландграф жил в полном соответствии с идеалами эпохи романтизма, и по сути, замок служил ему в качестве места уединения для себя и своей возлюбленной, Каролины фон Шлотайм, которая родила ему десяток детей, несмотря на протесты жены Вильгельма, Вильгельмины Каролины Датской. Вильгельмина ограничилась пятерыми отпрысками, так что любовница мужа перещеголяла ее по этому показателю. В 1821 году Вильгельм скончался в возрасте 78 лет в своем любимом Левенбурге.
Художественно-историческая роль Левенбурга в немецкой архитектуре огромна. Можно сказать, что с него начинается история неоготики в Германии, поскольку этот замок – первое значительное сооружение в этом стиле. Строился Левенбург в 1793 – 1801 гг, в те времена, когда эпоха возведения укрепленных грозных замков в Германии уже несколько столетий как закончилась. Он представляет собой имитацию средневекового рыцарского замка, романтичный облик древних руин. Сегодня замок выглядит так, как будто вокруг него по меньшей мере пару сотен лет велись ожесточенные бои с переходом Левенбурга из рук в руки. Но в действительности реальный военный ущерб замок испытал только в XX веке, но об этом ниже.
Изначально архитектор Генрих Кристоф Юссоф планировал возвести «романтические руины» — одну полуразрушенную башню с небольшой пристройкой. Для этого он предпринял поездку в Англию, чтобы подробно изучить полуразрушенные английские замки. Башня вышла неплохая и в меру разрушенная, но вокруг нее было решено построить что-нибудь еще. В конце концов получилась полная крепость, группирующаяся вокруг внутреннего двора. Также тут был разбит прекрасный английский сад, в котором можно увидеть фальшивые развалины, псевдоримские акведуки и псевдогреческие храмы. Замок сооружался из туфа, который имелся рядом со стройплощадкой в немалых количествах и легко подвергался обработке. Внутреннее пространство замка состоит из четырех княжеских апартаментов в барочном стиле. В башнях находится богатая коллекция исторического оружия и таранных машин XVI – XVII веков. Замковая капелла – музей средневековых церковных принадлежностей из окрестных городов. Здесь же, под хорами, находится крипта с могилой ландграфа. Во время войны из Левенбурга были эвакуированы многочисленные предметы обстановки замка. Эта историческая коллекция до сих пор не полностью выставлена в замке – руководство Касселя обещает сделать это после того, как реставрация полностью завершится.
Во время Второй мировой войны, в ходе воздушных налетов союзников на Кассель, замок сильно пострадал. Главная башня Левенбурга была большей частью разрушена – от нее остались только несколько лестниц с остатками стен. Замок восстанавливали в послевоенные годы, но главную башню реставрируют до сих пор. К сожалению, при восстановлении в основном руководствовались функциональностью, а не точностью передачи деталей. Впрочем, обаяние Левенбурга осталось прежним. Крепость стоит на возвышении над городом и навевает мечты о рыцарских турнирах, могучих латниках, прекрасных дамах и трубадурах.

90000 Burg Eltz (Eltz Castle): A German Fairytale Hidden in a Wooded Dell 90001 90002 Burg Eltz (Eltz Castle) sure looks something like a fairytale. This atmospheric German castle is located in a rural, wooded dell; not too far from the winding river Rhine. 90003 90002 90003 90002 I visited Burg Eltz in 2012; and it was a really memorable experience. 90003 90002 Enchantingly, the best way to reach the castle is by walking for 45 minutes through a dark green pine-forest. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, you turn a corner and Eltz Castle appears in front of you, like some odd mirage or fantastical fairytale.It’s a very special experience. 90003 90002 In common with many other German castles, Burg Eltz has been designed more for looks than for defence — it’s really a grand rural home, rather than an old Medieval fortress. However, its insides offer an interesting glimpse into the domestic lives of early Modern German nobility; and the outside of the castle is jaw-droppingly impressive. 90003 It’s picture-perfect, is not it? The view of Eltz from a neighbouring hill. 90012 A Medieval Spot, Chosen for Defence 90013 90002 It’s somewhat difficult to gauge from my photos, but Eltz Castle is situated within a small, wooded valley; and stands in the middle of the basin, perched upon a rocky crag.The river Eltz almost entirely loops around the crag; making it a brilliantly defensive spot. 90003 90002 It’s easy to see that this was a perfect spot upon which to construct a castle. But Eltz Castle was well-placed for economic reasons, as well as geographic. The confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers formed an important trade-route back in Medieval times. 90003 It’s a little hard to make out, but you can see that Burg Eltz is on a small, rocky precipice. It’s surrounded by a horseshoe of river.90002 Castles were used to protect trade routes; but, in addition, they could be used by nobles as a base to collect taxes and tithes from passing merchants. Because of this, the first foundations of the Burg were laid in about 1157. These first structures became the Platteltz — a large, Medieval castle-keep, which nowadays is merged into the buildings at the back of the castle. 90003 The entranceway to the castle — which is fortified by a huge, wooden gate outside of visiting hours. 90012 Burg Eltz: Three Castles in One 90013 90002 From small foundations, mighty castles are built — and it might surprise you to discover that Eltz Castle was not designed or built as one complete structure.Indeed, Burg Eltz is actually three castles in one. 90003 90002 How come? Constructing a Medieval castle was a significant financial commitment, and so three different branches of the Eltz family built entirely separate structures on the site of today’s castle. 90003 Suddenly, during the walk to Burg Eltz, you turn a corner and the castle appears in front of you. It’s quite a magic moment. 90002 There were three different sides of the clan — the Kempenich ( ‘The House of the Golden Lion’), the Rubenach ( ‘The House of the Silver Lion’) and the ‘The House of the Buffalo Horns’, who each built their own fortified living-quarters.These separate buildings co-existed peacefully on the rocky crag; with their residents sharing a central well and courtyard. 90003 90002 Each family branch built different buildings during different architectural periods. For example, the Rubenach buildings (some of which surround the courtyard today) were late-Gothic in style — placing emphasis on light and height. By contrast, the 1600s Kempenich buildings display early-modern complexity, with octagonal foundations and grand timber work towers.90003 90002 In 1815, the castle was unified in the hands of the House of the Golden Lion (that is, the Kempenich descendants). This line had out-lived the other families, and was also prosperous enough to buy out the property of the House of the Silver Lion. 90003 That’s me! Crossing a bridge across a small brook, on the final approach to the castle. 90002 Presently, Eltz Castle is privately owned; and has been held by the Eltz family for more than 800 years. The owner-in-chief is Dr Karl Graf; who’s in the 33rd generation of the Eltz clan.90003 90002 The modern-day owners are keen to emphasise that the castle’s recent restoration has been reasonably authentic. Back in the late 1800s, the Romantic style of restoration rather over-exaggerated the fairytale aspects of many other castles, rather mutilating their true heritage. In contrast, Burg Eltz was renovated and restored in a more sympathetic manner. 90003 90002 My impression is that the restoration of the castle smoothed some the disparate architectural styles, creating a castle that looked more ordered and unified — something built as a whole, rather than as an amalgamation of three parts.90003 The appearance is picture-perfect, resulting from extensive restoration — but most of the restorative works have been sympathetic. 90012 The Innards of the Castle: The Lives of German Nobility Past 90013 90002 Nowadays, the only way to see the innards of Burg Eltz is via a 45min guided tour — happily, there are a couple of English tours every day. The one downside of the touring mechanism is that photography of the rooms and chambers is strictly forbidden (you’ll have probably spotted this already, as I’ve only included exterior photos on this page).90003 One of the coats of arms you’ll discover upon the castle. This is the shield of the House of the Golden Lion. 90002 The insides of the Eltz Castle are an impressive (and slightly eclectic) combination of authentic Medieval furniture and more modern additions. There’re almost 80 different rooms within the castle, half of which have their own fireplaces. As an additional curiosity, in Early Modern times, the internal toilets were fitted with a grey-water flushing system, using gutters and drains from the roof above.90003 90002 The tour winds through a couple of banqueting chambers — check out the Flemish tapestries on the walls of the ground floor chamber. The artists attempted to capture an image of exotic animals but, in a world before photographs and international travel, these beasts are bizarre and threatening monsters. 90003 This crazy little critter is a gargoyle, decorating one of the gutters upon the castle roof. 90002 There are lots of little curiosities and interesting legends scattered throughout Burg Eltz.A chapel in one of the bedrooms juts out beyond the wall of the room — the idea being that no-one should be higher than God, so some architectural manoeuvring was required to get around the fact that there’s another bedroom on the floor above. 90003 Unfortunately, inner photos of the castle are prohibited. However, I was able to snap this central courtyard to my heart’s content. 90002 The Eltz Castle tour finishes in a dark and cool kitchen, where there’s evidence of a Medieval refrigerator — a store-cupboard cut into the cool, stone rock-face which could store milk and cheese for longer.Additionally, there’s a nice Medieval trick to keep food safe from prying rats and mice — hang it in baskets from the ceiling! 90003 90012 Visiting Eltz Castle: Getting There and Away 90013 90002 Burg Eltz is not exactly the most accessible castle in Germany; but it’s certainly possible to reach it by public transport or by car. If you’re driving, there are extensive directions on their official website. 90003 Hi ho, hi ho- walking through the misty woodland to the castle. 90002 If you’re making your own way there, the best place to stay is the town of Koblenz, a reasonably neat little place on the banks of the Rhine.There’s a variety of good places to stay in Koblenz, although everything is more modern and chainy than you might expect from a historic little German town. 90003 90002 My personal recommendation is the new and attractive G Hotel adjacent to the station — I stayed there and found it excellent value for money. I thought that the breakfast was mean, though. (The link above is an affiliate link to TripAdvisor). 90003 90002 Koblenz is about an hour or so by train from Cologne (Koln). From Koblenz, you’ll need to take a local train to the village of Moselkern (trains are about every hour; and take around 30min).90003 If you’re taking the walking trail to Burg Eltz, you’ll come through the super-cute village of Moselkern. 90002 From Moselkern, the walking route to the castle is very well signposted, and you’d have to be a bit daft to get lost. There’s an initial 30min walk from the train-station to the hotel on the outskirts of the village, where the official trail to the castle begins. From there, it’s an easy 45min walk through woodland paths to the castle. 90003 It’s this way! A sign pointing to the castle, which is a 45m walk through woodland.90002 Note that neither Moselkern nor Burg Eltz have anything in the way of ATMs: do not get caught out, and bring a chunk of cash. 90003 90002 I visited other German castles during my trip in 2012. I think you might like to read more about Heidelberg Castle, which is one of the most romantic ruins in the whole of Germany. Alternatively, why not discover touristy — but super-famous — Neuschwanstein Castle? 90003 .90000 Visit Frankenstein’s Castle in Germany 90001 90002 90003 Photograph by Iurii Buriak, Alamy Stock Photo 90004 90003 Read Caption 90004 90003 This castle in southern Hesse, Germany, inspired legends since the 17th century. 90004 90003 Photograph by Iurii Buriak, Alamy Stock Photo 90004 90003 90012 The tale of this monster blends myth and reality.90013 90004 90003 From the town of Gernsheim, on the eastern banks of a languorous meander in the Rhine, it was once possible to see the steep slate roof and towers of Frankenstein castle, positioned on a hilltop 10 miles away. In 1814 a few days after her 17th birthday, Mary Shelley very likely gazed up at the fortress during the several hours her party spent resting in the town.She and her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley eloped to France and Switzerland but overspent and were returning to England by riverboat through Germany. 90004 90003 During their three-hour stop at Gernsheim, it’s unlikely they climbed up to the summit, but it is possible that she heard grisly tales of the alchemist and physician Johann Konrad Dippel, who was born in the castle. Dippel invented an animal oil that he claimed was a universal medicine and theorized about transferring souls between dead bodies with the aid of a funnel.90018 [Read about Dracula’s castle in Transylvania.] 90019 90004 90003 While there is little substantiated proof that Dippel inspired the novel, the coincidences are spooky. In contrast, Shelley’s social milieu does include a connection to Benjamin Franklin, whose experiments with electricity are a likely inspiration for the animating process that brings the monster to life. The connection to anatomist Erasmus Darwin is the most certain of all, as he is cited as affirming that the events of the Gothic tale are «not of impossible occurrence» in the introduction to the original version of the novel, published 200 years ago this year .90004 90003 Visit the castle today, a short drive south of Frankfurt, and you can climb the tower and dine on a patio, both with a view of the valley below. Get ready for the kind of warmhearted companionship that the novel’s monster yearned for. 90004 90003 The menu is kid friendly, with vegan options and a nonalcoholic version of their signature Frankensteiner cocktail, which will help make sure you can navigate back down the winding road. Be sure to peek into the chapel where you might see a kindhearted bride.90004 90003 If you’re in the mood for murder and mayhem that the monster unfurled on the world once it spurned him, head downstairs to the dinner theater where you can catch German-language productions featuring criminals and monsters including, of course, the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein. 90004 90029 Brad Scriber is the Deputy Research Director of 90018 National Geographic 90019 Magazine. Follow his travels on Twitter. 90032 90003 PUBLISHED 90034 October 15, 2018 90035 90004 90003 Continue Reading 90004 .90000 56 Most Amazing Castles in Germany 90001 90002 German castles are nothing short of outstanding. Not all of them resemble fairy tale castles, though it’s been said that some of these gleaming light-colored structures, standing out in the green forests surrounding them, put Disney castles to shame. 90003 90002 Like everywhere, most castles in Germany were built on hills, enabling the occupants of yore to see invaders approaching. Not all the castles in Germany, however, were successful at repelling foreign invaders, who frequently captured and destroyed them.90003 90002 Castles are considered one of Germany’s crown jewels. It’s hard to argue with this, as they certainly are impressive and imposing. Germany is filled with castles, ranging from its most famous castle, Neuschwanstein Castle that was built by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, to Burghausen Castle, which is the longest castle in Europe, to romantic castles overlooking the Rhine River. In between, castles of all sizes and shapes can be found throughout Germany. 90003 90002 While drinking beer and visiting Christmas markets are popular fall and winter activities in Germany, visiting castles when they’re covered with snow adds a new dimension to the German experience.Castles somehow just seem more magical when they’re covered with the fluffy white stuff. Anytime, however, is a great time to visit a castle in Germany. 90003 90010 1. Plassenburg 90011 90002 Plassenburg is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the Bavarian city of Kulmbach. It was first mentioned in 1135. It was destroyed in тисяча п’ятсот п’ятьдесят чотири at the end of the second Margravian war. The castle was later rebuilt by the architect Caspar Vischer as an impressive stronghold and as a huge palace.90003 90010 2. Nuremberg Castle 90011 90002 90017 This castle is situated on a sandstone rock in the north of the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. It comprises three sections: the Imperial castle (Kaiserburg), some buildings of the Burgraves of Nuremberg (Burggrafenburg), and the municipal buildings of the Imperial City at the eastern site (Reichsstädtische Bauten). The castle, together with the city walls, is considered to be one of Europe’s most formidable medieval fortifications. 90003 90010 3.Schloss Johannisburg 90011 90002 90017 One of the most important buildings of the Renaissance period in Germany, Schloss Johannisburg is located in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg in Franconia. It was built between 1605 and 1614 by the architect Georg Ridinger. Until 1803, it was the second residence of the Prince Bishop of Mainz. The castle was nearly destroyed in the closing days 90003.90000 18 Must-See German Castles & Palaces (with Map!) 90001 90002 There are not any castles or palaces in the western hemisphere, not proper ones anyways. But this does not keep these noble buildings from being an integral part of American fantasy and folklore. 90003 90002 Disney, for instance, has captivated audiences with films set in palaces and castles since 1937. Yet, despite castles being foreignarchitecture, their presence in the fairy tales that we still cherish today inspire a persistent sense of nostalgia and wonder for these buildings.90003 90002 Castles in Germany, however, can be found all over the place. 90003 90002 German palaces and castles are the enduring legacy of the region’s history of feudalism. Though the cultures and heritages that make up modern Germany can be traced back further than Common Era, Germany as a nation state is actually almost a century younger than the United States. Prior to unification, the region consisted of hundreds of fiefdoms. 90003 90002 The German castles and palaces that can still be visited today are a fascinating glimpse into the distinct cultures and medieval history of a country that is today by all measures decidedly modern.90003 90012 What is a castle? What is a palace? What is the difference? 90013 90002 As an architectural work and from a historical and archaeological perspective, castles exist only in Europe and the Middle East and were built by European nobility during the Middle Ages. Castles are always fortified for protection and would serve as the private residence of a nobleman or lord. 90003 90002 Palaces are a broader category describing ornate homes, and they can also be found throughout Asia. But as far as European palaces go, palaces by definition were built during the Middle Ages for the same purpose as castles: a private residence for nobility.90003 90002 The difference between a castle vs a palace is that palaces are not fortified for protection, while castles are. The German word 90019 Schloss 90020 can be used to describe both kinds of buildings, where the English language makes a distinction between palace and castle. 90003 90012 Visiting German castles and palaces 90013 90002 With hundreds of palaces and castles throughout Germany, no matter where you are in this country there is bound to be one nearby. We’ve made a list of 18 must-see German palaces and castles that feel like something out of a fairy tale.Some are set in the countrysideothers can be found in bustling city centers, buteach one is worth a visit. 90003 90002 90003 90012 German Castles to visit: 90013 90030 1. Lichtenstein Castle, Honau 90031 90032 90002 Image source. 90003 90002 One of Germany’s younger castles, Lichtenstein Castle was built in the Gothic Revival style in 1842.The word Lichtenstein means «shining stone» in German, and this castle was built with every intention of being a sparkling gem. 90003 90002 An older, medieval castle lays in ruins just a few hundred meters away.It was these ruins that served as the setting inspiration for Wilhelm Hauff’s famous novel, 90019 Lichtenstein 90020. Seized by the romantic nostalgia of the novel, architect Carl Alexander Heidelhoff erected this castle as a homage to the bygone era. 90003 90002 This iconic castle has inspiredimitations as far away as South Africa. Visitors are offered guided tours and a striking view of the river valley below. 90003 90002 90003 90030 2. Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg 90031 90002 90048 90003 90002 Heidelberg is a quaint university city, and highly popular tourist destination, nestled in the Neckar Valley.Famous for being the birthplace of German Romanticism and the backdrop for the works of Schiller, Goethe, and Eichendorff, Heidelberg is also the largest German city that was not bombed during WWII. While every other major city in Germany underwent major rebuilding after the war, Heidelberg boasts a full city center of buildings that are hundreds of years old. 90003 90002 The ruins of the Heidelberg Castle sit on a mountain overlooking the river and city below. First built in the 13 90053 th 90054 century, the castle features an apothecary museum showcasing the medicinal arts of the time.Tours inside Heidelberg Castle will also show you the world’s largest wine barrel. Come during the summer to witness one of three annual Castle Lightings, during which the ruins are illuminated with a brilliant light and fireworks show. 90003 90002 90003 90030 3. Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau 90031 90002 90061 90003 90002 The most visited castle in all of Germany, this Romanesque Revival castle attracts more than 1.3 million tourists yearly. Built in тисяча вісімсот шістьдесят дев’ять by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in patronage to the composer Richard Wagner, this highly romantic castle is likely Germany’s most famous.It’s mountaintop perch and striking views of the Bavarian country side have inspired numerous creative works including Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. It’s also featured in the movies Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Great Escape.A quick day-trip from Munich, Oktoberfest goers often make it out to Neuschwanstein during the festivities. 90003 90002 90003 90030 4. Cochem Castle, Cochem 90031 90002 90070 90003 90002 Cochem is a tiny town of 5,000 residents that sits in the Mosel River Valley. Its famous castle dates back to the 13th century and boasts some fascinating medieval historical interest.One tower of the castle is known as the Witches Tower, where women suspected of witchcraft were thrown from a window to see if they’d survive (which would prove if they were a witch) .The castle changed hands many times since its construction, but remains a hauntingly beautiful relic for this otherwise sleepy town. 90003 90002 90003 90030 5. Hohenzollern Castle, Bisingen 90031 90002 90079 90003 90002 Perched atop a mountain in the famous Black Forest, Hohenzollern Castle feels like something out of a fantasy novel.On foggy autumn days, the castle appears to be floating in the clouds. 90003 90002 Built, destroyed, and rebuilt several times since the 15th century, this castle has endured many changing eras. American visitors may be interested to find within the castle museum a letter penned by George Washington to a Hohenzollern descendant thanking him for his contribution to the American Revolutionary War. 90003 90002 90003 90030 6. Braunfels Castle, Braunfels 90031 90089 90002 Image source. 90003 90002 This thirteenth century castle has, like many German castles, undergone many makeovers and a lot of destruction since it was first built.Now in the Neo-Gothic style, the Braunfels castle features elaborate hunting paintings and artifacts. Open air plays and operas are held during the summer months in the castle garden and, in the fall, the surrounding foliage is brilliantly colorful. 90003 90002 90003 90030 7. Sigmaringen Castle, Sigmaringen 90031 90002 90099 90003 90002 First built in the 12th century, this utterly regal palace sits in the Swabian Plateau region of Germany and overlooks the Danube river. Like many castles of its day, the Sigmaringen Castle sits atop a steep, jagged rock, an ideal location to keep building protected against revolting peasants or enemies.Meant to be a meeting place for Europe’s nobility, the many renovations undergone by this castle reflect the international affairs of its ruling family. With French, Portuguese, and Spanish influences as well as a hall dedicated to its German ancestry, Sigmaringen Castle is more cosmopolitan in appearance than most German castles. 90003 90002 90003 90030 8. Hochburg Ruins, Emmendingen 90031 90002 90108 90003 90002 For intrepid travelers who would rather clamber on the ruins of a castle than shuffle through a castle museum, the Hochburg Ruins between Emmendingden and Sexau offer an exciting and rustic experience.Hochburg castle has laid in ruins since 1688 when French troops demolished the fortification after occupying it during the 30-Years War. Hochburg today is one of the best spots in Southwest Germany for a picnic, with its eerie stone structures and breath-taking views of the countryside. 90003 90002 90003 90030 9. Wernigerode Castle, Wernigerode 90031 90002 90117 90003 90002 First built in 1213, the Wernigerode Castle is among Germany’s oldest and best-preserved. Located in a tiny East German town situated in the Harz Mountains, the castleis located along the beloved German Timber-Frame Road, a tourist route through some of Germany’s most picturesque towns named for its quaint, wooden frame structures.The Wernigerode Castle itself is made of more timber than is typical of German castles, due to the ample supply provided by the surrounding forest-gorgeous scenery seen formiles from the castle perch. 90003 90002 90003 90030 10. Hämelschenburg Castle, Emmerthal 90031 90002 90126 90003 90002 If your image of what a castle should be is a stately stone building surrounded by a moat, the Hämelschenburg castle will be like a dream come true. Jürgen von Klenke and his wife Anna von Holle built this castle in the late 16th century as a home for themselves and their 14 children.The moat kept the castle from being destroyed and plundered during the 30-Years War. Today, Hämelschenburg castle is best enjoyed with a locally brewed beer in the nearby beer garden. 90003 90002 90003 90012 German Palaces to Visit: 90013 90030 1. Schwerin Palace, Schwerin 90031 90002 90137 90003 90002 Schwerin Palace takes luxury to the next level. Not only is it an ornate palace, but it is also located on its own private island. Often called the Neuschwanstein of the North, the palace now serves as both a public tourist destination and the parliament for the Mecklenburg region.The palace is supposedly haunted by a well-meaning but troublesome spirit called Petermännchen. Only a few feet high and carrying a bunch of keys, this little ghost plays pranks, rewards the honest, and scares away liars and cheats. Statues and paintings depicting him can be found throughout the palace. 90003 90002 90003 90030 2. Mannheim Baroque Palace, Mannheim 90031 90002 90146 90003 90002 Mannheim is not the kind of idyllic European town that one might picture as home to a giant palace, especially in contrast to its famous neighbor Heidelberg.An industrial center bombed to rubble during WWII, Mannheim was rebuilt on a New York City-style grid without any regard to past neighborhoods. 90003 90002 But, in the middle of this very modern, industrial city and university town sits a sprawling Baroque Palace. Part museum and part university building, the Mannheim Palace is a great example of old-meets-new and excellent urban planning. It is also the second largest Baroque style palace in Europe after Versailles. Unhappy with his status as second largest, the palace’s founder, Karl Philip III, made certain that his abode had one more window than the famed French palace.90003 90002 90003 90030 3. Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam 90031 90002 90157 90003 90002 Built in the Rococo style, Sanssouci Palace was the summer home of the legendary Friedrich the Great, King of Prussia. Located in Potsdam, a quick trip from capital Berlin, Sanssouci is considerably modest as palaces go. It is only a single story and features only 10 main rooms. The sprawling gardens featuring wine grapes and fountains, however ensure that there is no mistaking the palace as anything but utterly regal.The first Prussian King to be a child of the Enlightenment, Friedrich insisted that art and nature coexist in his estate. The terraced gardens with many ornaments and public spaces are a testament to this. 90003 90002 90003 90030 4. Nymphenburg Palace, Munich 90031 90002 90166 90003 90002 Another Baroque style palace featuring a huge pavilion, the Nymphenburg Palace dates back to the 17th century and is still home to the modern Duke of Bavaria. It has come to be one of the most famous sites in Munich, and some 300,000 yearly tourists enjoy feeding the swans that swim in the palace’s giant reflection pools.90003 90002 90003 90030 5. Schleissheim Palace, Oberschleissheim 90031 90002 90175 90003 90002 Built in 1704 and modeled after Versailles, the Schleissheim Palace is located 14 km outside of Munich. The complex is actually three different palaces with distinct styles that become flashier as you move to the more recent. The palace complex also features the Schleissheim beer garden, with seating for up to 1,000 guests one of the most scenic places to take part in Munich’s annual Oktoberfest festivities.90003 90002 90003 90030 6. Schwetzingen Palace, Schwetzingen 90031 90002 90184 90003 90002 The peachy pink color of the Schwetzingen Palace makes it impossible to miss. Located in a small town between Mannheim and Heidelberg, this cheery palace is famous for its sprawling and impossibly well-kept gardens. While the palace itself may be relatively modest, visitors can enjoy the sunny southern German weather ona stroll through some of the region’s most incredible landscaping. With both French and English style gardens, an ornate Turkish-style mosque, and a Rococo theater, it’s easy to see how nobility could keep themselves entertained summering in such a place.90003 90002 90003 90030 7. Dresden Royal Palace, Dresden 90031 90002 90193 90003 90002 The eastern city of Dresden is famed for having some of the most beautiful and ornate architecture in Germany. The Dresden Royal Palace is one example of the many incredible historical buildings you can visit here. Though Dresden was relentlessly bombed during WWII, destroyingmuch of the palace, the priceless artifacts inside of it were temporarily relocated and thus saved. Today, this neo-renaissance palace is one of the most impressive historical museums in all of Germany.It features both the historic and new Green Vault (one of the rooms destroyed in the war), the Numismatic Cabinet, the Dresden Armory, the Turkish Chamber, and the Dresden State Art Library. 90003 90002 90003 90030 8. Fürstbischöfliches Schloss, Münster 90031 90002 90202 90003 90002 Once the seat of the Prince Bishop, the Palace in Muenster is now used as an administration building by the city’s renowned university. Sections of this gorgeous baroque palace are still open to public for tours, most notably the sprawling botanical gardens.Filled with meadows, moors, greenhouses, man-made lakes and ponds, these striking gardens are home to a colorful biodiversity, all within the city-limits of bustling Muenster. 90003 90002 90003 90208 90209 Looking for a chance to see some of the old-world charm of modern Germany? Join Bucket List Events at Oktoberfest in Munich, the world’s largest folk festival. Strap on your lederhosen and get ready to experience the contagious merriment of Bavarian beer. 90210 90002 90212 90213 90212 90212 90212 90003 .