Wonderful Castles of Germany!

But there are many more castles in Germany; there are even a few "roads of the castles" (Burgenstrassen) that you can follow either by bike, by boat or by car. There is a well known route along the Mosel River, close by Trier, and another one called "Die Burgenstrasse" that follows part of the Rhine, the Neckar and the Danube, all the way from Mannheim to Prague!

Many of these castles were built or entirely renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries and so have the Romantic style of that period (such as Neuschwanstein!). But you will also find some originals that are much older, dating from the Middle Ages of the 11th to 14th centuries. Some are only ruins, a few remain inhabited by aristocratic families, while others still have been transformed into hotels and restaurants.

The second castle built in Neckarsteinach, after Hinterburg, is one of the two presently inhabited castles and is called "Mittelburg" (Castle in the Middle), an apt name as it is situated between the Hinterburg and the other inhabited castle named "Vorburg" (Front Castle).

Then there is "Schadeck", also known as the "Schwalbennest", meaning the swallow's nest, because of its location high on the hills overlooking the valley and the village below. This castle is more recent, dated 1230.

What is so interesting about these castles, apart from the fact that there are four of them within less than a kilometer of each other, is that at least two of them were built by Bligger II. Who's that, you ask? It is believed that Bligger II wrote the well known German classic "Nibelungenliedes," used by Tolkien and countless other authors in their own stories. Hitler was also a fan of these songs, extolling the exploits of a true German Hero.



Other castles of Germany that come to mind are Schwetzingen, for its magnificent gardens mainly, the "Kurfürstliches Schloss" of Trier, one of the most beautiful rococo style castles in the world, Bürg Hornberg along the Neckar, Hirschhorn Castle-Hotel also up river from Heidelberg and where you can stay for a few days, Marburg castle, Schwerin castle, the imposing Eltz burg overlooking the Mosel and many many more!

If you love castles, you will love this BRAND NEW Castles of Germany 2010 calendar! We looked through hundreds of our own pictures to choose the right ones; those that will best represent the castles, or show you that little detail that makes these sights worth seeing. Simply click on the image (a new tab will open) for a preview and follow the instructions. With Christmas fast approaching, you might want to order a few. And at about 25 USD each they are a great gift to give (or to keep!).

Enjoy!

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