Hohenzollern Castle Near Hechingen, Germany

From the state road my husband Bill and I were traveling on a couple of weeks ago, the castle appeared to rise from the hills as if by magic. As we drew closer, I was enchanted by Hohenzollern Castle, a beautiful castle located atop Mount Hohenzollern. Originally built in the 11th century, this castle was completely demolished after a ten month siege in 1423. Like a phoenix, the majestic castle arose again when it was reconstructed between 1454 and 1461. Unfortunately, by the end of the 18th century, the castle had once again fallen into disrepair. Luckily, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV took up the cause of restoring the castle a third time. Between the years 1846 and 1867, Hohenzollern Castle rose from the ashes again. This third version of the castle is what visitors can see today.

To be honest, before a couple of weeks ago, I had never even heard of Hohenzollern Castle. Like so many other Americans, the only German castle I knew the slightest thing about was Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig II's dream castle locted in southern Bavaria. I was lucky enough to see Neuschwanstein a few weeks ago and, indeed, it is very impressive. However, in terms of history, Hohenzollern Castle has Neuschwanstein beat hands down. By castle standards, Neuschwanstein is very modern, having been built in the latter part of the 19th century. In fact, Neuschwanstein was never finished and the king lived there for only a couple hundred days before he was deposed. Hohenzollern Castle, by contrast, has been around for centuries.

Getting there

Hohenzollern Castle is located next to the town of Hechingen, which is about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart and not far from the town of Tubingen. Bill and I are lucky enough to live near Tubingen, so it was an easy drive for us. Trains run to Hechingen from Stuttgart. Parking is available in several pay lots near the base of Mount Hohenzollern. We paid two euros for the privilege of parking in the lot closest to the castle, but we saw other people parking further away.

To get to the castle itself, visitors can either take the shuttle bus or walk. A one way trip on the shuttle bus costs 1.70 euros per adult and .80 euro cents per child; round trip fare is 2.70 euros per adult and 1.35 euros per chld. Group discounts are available. Walking is free, but be warned; the walk is very challenging. You can either walk up the long, windy road and dodge the shuttle buses, or you can take the shorter but much steeper mountain trail. Bill and I chose to walk up the mountain trail and it was a difficult twenty minute walk for both of us. We noticed a bus stop at the top of the first hill. I guess that's for people who change their mind about walking after the first leg of the trail! After making the steep climb myself, I'm convinced that it helps to be part mountain goat to make it up the hill. However, the views from the trail are stunning and once you get to the top, you feel great. Don't try the trail if you aren't wearing comfortable shoes with good traction!

Tickets

One thing I really liked about Hohenzollern Castle is that it's not overrated. To go to Neuschwanstein, you have to buy a ticket and wait for your turn to take the guided tour. At Hohenzollern, the crowds are not nearly as large or imposing. Bill and I walked up to the ticket counter outside of the entrance to buy our tickets. Once we paid, we could go right in and have a look around.

One thing to know about Hohenzollern Castle is that there are two types of tickets. You can buy a ticket for the grounds only for 4 euros. Tickets for the grounds and a guided tour of the inside cost 8 euros. Again, group discounts are available and all tickets for children between the ages of 6 and 14 cost 4 euros. The guided tours are conducted in German; group tours in English or other languages are by request and exclusive tours require a special fee.

The castle is open every day except December 24th. From March 16th until October 31st, operating hours are from 9:30am til 5:30pm. From November 1st until March 15th, the castle is open from 10:00am until 4:00pm.

What is there to see?

Hohenzollern Castle itself is awesome to look at. Take a walk through the Eagle Gateway and walk up the ramp. Stroll around the perimeter and see the beautiful old statues of past kings, cornered by mighty bastions. Continue through the courtyards and gaze at the awesome architecture. Two of the three chapels on the grounds are open to the public. You can see St. Michael's or Christ Chapel without taking the guided tour. Take note of the beautiful stained glass windows, which are regarded as some of the finest in Germany.

My favorite part of the Hohenzollern Castle experience is the spectacular view. Standing by the wall surrounding the castle, I was able to gaze out over the quaint, beautiful nearby towns surrounded by woodsy hills and green meadows. As I walked around the castle's perimeters, I was delighted by the different views afforded, as well as a neat mapping device that showed where other towns were located and how far away they were. Please note, even if it's a warm day, it may be worthwhile to bring a jacket with you. It was noticeably windier and chillier at the castle site than it was at the base of Mount Hohenzollern.

Refreshments, shopping, and public restrooms

There is a small outdoor cafe located in the courtyard that serves beer, soft drinks, and light refreshments. A restaurant inside the castle serves more substantial food. There's also a small cafe near the parking lots at the bottom of Mount Hohenzollern. A small gift shop near the restaurant sells a small selection of souvenirs, batteries, film, and even wine. Likewise, there's a larger gift shop adjacent to the small cafe near the parking lot. The shop near the parking lot had much more to buy, which makes sense, since no one wants to carry large purchases down a mountainside!

Public restrooms are located near the top parking lot and in the castle near the gift shop and restaurant. Be sure to leave a couple of coins for the attendant.

How much time does it take?

Our little excursion entertained us for about three hours. Your mileage may vary, of course, depending on whether or not you want to spring for the guided tour. Since we live nearby, I'm sure Bill and I will be visiting Hohenzollern Castle again... Just the thought of climbing that steep trail again makes my muscles and lungs twitch in nervous anticipation.