Germany's Magnificent Castles

Courtesy, Germany Tourist Board

A trip to Germany's castles and palaces is like visiting the Emperors, Kings and Princes who once ruled here. The more you know about them, the more intense is the daily experience on your trip. Castles and palaces housed the most important rulers of the Middle Ages who planned the fate of their kingdoms, empires and realms.

At that time history was not only made on the battlefield, but also with great skill and intrigue behind the battlements of castles and palaces. In this connection the "acquisition" of land through marriage was a very significant factor. The Catholic Church was without reservation deeply involved right up to the Reformation, and this had a decisive impact on the architecture and furnishings of the buildings.

Germany owes a debt of thanks to the over 300 individual states of the old German Reich for its innumerable castles and for the diversity of its cultural scene. The residences of the dukes, princes, numerous counts, prince bishops and abbots with their castles and palaces, parks, royal duke's stables, cavaliers' quarters and chancelleries often formed entire small capital towns. Apart from these miniature residences there are magnificent castle complexes at the main seats of former German princes in European format. Cultural life blossomed at these big and small princely courts.

Since hardly any King could maintain a regular army, the Kings were dependent on their barons and dukes. They often found it very difficult to keep these under control. In Germany there were powerful reigning princes, who ruled their fiefdoms as independent states and maintained costly courts. A visit to their palaces and residences will bring this magnificent era to life once again.

The feudal system developed in the Middle Ages, which brought peace and stability to European states for many centuries. It was led by strong characters at every level of the hierarchy. We can thank each of these feudal lords for a more or less large chunk of culture and history. At the highest level there were the Kings and Emperors who were crowned by the Pope and were regarded as the temporal representative of God. Below them were dukes and counts who were the most powerful aristocrats in Germany. Bishops with their dioceses, the areas they controlled, were of equal rank in terms of power.

Although the walls of Germany's castles are centuries old, they are nowhere near to being withdrawn from the public gaze. Set high above adjacent towns dating back to the Middle Ages and often in romantic landscapes, they make an extremely dynamic impression as tourist attractions. Sustained by the enormous interest shown in their mostly turbulent histories, colourful festivities and feasts are re-enacted within their ruins, which stunningly and authentically revive and recreate the Middle Ages. You can experience the spectacle of jousting, minerals and real banquets. Country markets with traditional skills and crafts, fancy-dress pursuits and street theatre are popular, and form a link to the myths and legends which every castle accumulates.

Castles and palaces in Germany stage these festivities all year round. In spring you can choose between Spring festivals, May markets, Pentecost markets and historic pastoral dances. Or you can visit a traditional cake and waters festival of the salt workers, enjoy a Kaiserburg (imperial castle) concert in the knights´ hall and then plunge into a mediaeval spectacle with the small traders´ market. After the midsummer night festival you can welcome in the new season at a "Musical summer" in the "Serenadenhof".

The long days become even longer with castles illuminated with brilliant fireworks, and blues nights in the palace courtyard, and if your ears are still not ringing after the wine festival, we can recommend the open air concerts in the castle courtyard or serenades at the "gunpowder" tower. However, there are also alternatives in the ruins, e.g. a samba festival, rock in the castle moat, a Dracula piece or real Baroque fireworks. Autumn is varied with harvest festivities, wine festivals, oven festivals, garland festivals and many music and theater festivals. In November and December there is only the one widespread event, and that is the unforgettable Christmas Markets with centuries old traditions.

A single mediaeval banquet is a fantastic time-travel experience to a different world. Fresh bread, for example, is baked in the castle courtyard, and home-made cream cheese and butter is produced. Gourmets expect delicacies like a Burgundy roast, grilled Camembert and excellent wines and new wines. In addition they expect home-made fare, which has been baked and brewed according to old recipes. Minstrels and jugglers, knights, noblemen and women, monks and quacks in original costumes, colorful flags and big colorful coat-of-arms provide the historic atmosphere.

In the evening when the firework display is in progress, the entire castle mound is illuminated like a volcano, and the Catherine-wheels let the Middle Ages culminate with a festive finale.

A traveler will encounter magnificent castles in all parts of Germany. These are being preserved at great cost in top condition, and in conjunction with their surroundings, their new buildings, also august churches containing tombs, and often still furnished and equipped as in their golden age, they bring history alive and create an impressive landscape. Many are still inhabited by aristocratic families, in others there are museums, art collections and picture galleries or public institutions. Numerous castles and palaces are nowadays hotels and restaurants or youth-hotels, where you can enjoy bygone centuries in a wholly personal way.