The 10 most famous castles in Germany

Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited castles worldwide. This neo-Romanesque, neo-Gothic architectural wonder stands proud in the Bavarian Alps, surrounded by the spectacular Hohenschwangau valley.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria designed and commissioned Neuschwanstein castle in 1869 but died in 1886 before it was completed. He wanted it to be a peaceful retreat from the world's frenzy, a place to immerse himself in nature. This fairytale site is a delight inside and out, with exquisite rooms, colourful roofs and exuberant spires.

Highlights include the following:

• The Throne Room
• The Singers' Hall
• Ludwig's bedroom

Standing proud above the water, Mespelbrunn Castle is a testimony to the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. Its construction dates back to the 17th century, but its origins go back even further.

Hamann Echter built this manor house in 1412, and his son repurposed it as a fortified castle with walls and towers in 1427. The building was reconstructed by Peter Echter of Mespelbrunn during the 16th century and shaped as we know it now. Thanks to its secluded location in Spessart, between Frankfurt and Würzburg, the structure survived the Thirty Years' War and is among Germany's most famous castles today.

Highlights include the following:

• The Knights' Hall
• Chief Porch
• Chinese Room

Lichtenstein Castle represents Germany's castle culture at its finest. Sitting on a rocky outcrop in the Swabian Alps and connected by a wooden bridge, this neo-Gothic wonder pays tribute to medieval times.

Inspired by Wilhelm Hauff's novel "Liechtenstein", Count Wilhelm of Württemberg constructed the building in 1840-42 on the foundation walls of a medieval knights' castle. The interior is opulent and elegant, with Roman-style rooms and colourful, carved wood details. Enjoy a scenic hiking or rope trail around the castle if you fancy exploring its glorious surroundings.

Highlights include the following:

• The Knights' Hall
• Chapel
• Romantic courtyard

Mysterious and mesmerising, Hohenzollern Castle is one of Germany's most emblematic castles. The building is the imperial House of Hohenzollern's ancestral seat, dominating the landscape with its impressive neo-Gothic style.

The original structure was built in the early 1200s but was destroyed in 1423. A more fortified replacement was designed in 1454 but fell to ruin at the beginning of the 19th century. King Frederick William IV took over the project in 1850 and founded the castle as we know it today. This 19th-century military architectural masterpiece welcomes 350,000 visitors yearly, making it one of Germany's most visited sites.

Highlights include the following:

• The Grafensaal
• The Treasury
• The casemates

Schwerin Castle is almost entirely surrounded by water, with only a bridge connecting it to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's capital.

Steeped in history, the castle was founded in 973 as the seat of the Dukes of Mecklenburg. They changed the building's appearance from a fortress to a palace to showcase their wealth and power. However, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II ordered a complete makeover of the site in the mid-1800s, which was preserved during the unification of Germany. Today, the castle houses a museum and the Government House of the Parliament of Mecklenburg-Pomerania.

Highlights include the following:

• The Throne Room
• The Portrait Gallery
• Baroque gardens

Heidelberg Castle is a remarkable example of German Renaissance architecture and is among Germany's most famous sites. Despite its troubled history, the castle still stands proud on a hill overlooking Heidelberg Old Town.

Its construction began between the 14th and 15th centuries when Prince Elector Ruprecht II made it his regal residence. Heidelberg castle was set on fire in 1689 and 1693 during the War of the Grand Alliance and struck by lightning in 1764. Restorations began in 1883 under the supervision of the Grand Duchy of Baden, who wanted to preserve the castle's ruins. Today, the beautiful courtyard hosts concerts, performances and festivals.

Take the funicular railway from the Kornmarkt to the castle for sweeping landscape views.

Other highlights include the following:

• The courtyard
• The German Pharmacy Museum
• The cellar

Lying on a hill above Lake Alpsee, Hohenschwangau Castle was the childhood home of King Ludwig II. First owned by the Knights of Schwangau, the castle was bought by King Ludwig's father, Maximilian II of Bavaria, in 1833 and designed according to the original plans. The neo-Gothic structure was a hunting lodge and summer residence.

Its bright yellow colour, opulent rooms and lush gardens make this castle one of Germany's most visited. It overlooks Neuschwanstein and is believed to have inspired King Ludwig II’s own castle later in his life.

Highlights include the following:

• Castle Gardens
• Museum of the Bavarian Kings
• Unique Souvenir Shop

Steeped in 900 years of history, Eltz Castle will take your breath away. Quintessentially German, the castle sits atop a 70-metre-high hill, surrounded by the Eltz Forest and the Moselle Valley's glorious countryside.

The Eltz family has owned this fairytale castle since the 12th century and has restored and extended it over the years. The inside is as enchanting as the outside, with 100 luxurious rooms, soaring stone towers and sharply pitched roofs. The red half-timbered facades make the castle one-of-a-kind.

Highlights include the following:

• The Knights' Hall
• The Armory
• The Treasury

Wartburg Castle is an emblem of German culture, described as an 'outstanding monument of the feudal period in Central Europe' by UNESCO.

Construction began during the 12th century, and the building still features original parts from the feudal period, although most sections are 19th-century reconstructions. Sitting atop a 400-metre-high hill, the castle’s position makes it imposing, just like in medieval times. Wartburg Castle is where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, marking the beginning of a unified German language.

Must-see permanent exhibitions include the following:

• The Landgrave's Room
• Frescoes Elizabeth Gallery
• Luther Bible

Soaring 330 metres above Cochem, Reichsburg Castle is one of Germany's gems.

The building has existed since the 12th century when it was used to collect tolls from ships carrying cargo between Trier and the Rhine River. This brought incredible wealth to Trier's bishops, who controlled the castle between the 14th and 16th centuries. When the French invaded the region in 1689, they destroyed everything, and the building fell to ruin until Louis Ravené bought and reconstructed it in 1866.

He created a neo-Gothic castle in line with the 19th-century Romantic era, incorporating aspects of classic Gothic castles. Today, the site hosts medieval festivals, markets and performances.

Highlights include the following:

• Hunters' Room
• Weapons Room
• Historic cellar