VIRTUAL TRAVEL: Castles in SouthWest Germany
There is no reason we cannot enjoy exploring new destinations while staying safe at home. The virtual vacation can help us escape, even if only for a short while. In this featured virtual travel experience we’re visiting SouthWest Germany. Specifically the gorgeous castles and palaces which are some of the most well-preserved in all of Europe. Some people have called these royal palaces home for centuries and all of them hold priceless collections of tapestries, art, arms and armor and are surrounded by beautiful gardens. They are a perfect place to enjoy history, beauty, art and architecture and great stories from the past while social distancing. Many of the castles have restaurants and cafes, well-stocked book shops and guided tours in costume. No matter where you go, there is always an activity and a treat awaiting you and your traveling companions. You will travel into a world where life slows down, becomes beautiful, orderly, magnificent and well-preserved.
Stately Palaces and Gardens in SouthWest Germany Offer Elegance and Stories
Visiting the castles and gardens of SouthWest Germany is an unforgettable experience – especially in the summer! From medieval castles in the Black Forest to palaces at Lake Constance, the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg, offer stunning sites to visit. Just as impressive to visit are the many historical gardens – built with the same effort and splendor as any palace. See the world-famous ruins of Heidelberg Palace, set against forested hills above the historical old town of Heidelberg, and its garden, which was regarded as one of the most famous of the Renaissance. Or explore Schwetzingen Palace’s extraordinary gardens of European renown – they offer a wonderful, and at times surprising, landscape. They feature over 100 statues and even fascinating buildings such as Greek temples, a decorative mosque and a faux Roman water fortress. Weikersheim Palace looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale! Visiting the palace is like travelling in time, as the interior has been preserved nearly perfectly. Its Baroque garden – laid out geometrically, with a focus on symmetry and order – is kept according to century old plans. If you want to see the castles and gardens of SouthWest Germany there are many options to choose from – each of them beautiful and unique!
State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württembergf
Baden-Baden – where history blends seamlessly with a contemporary lifestyle
Nestled to the north of Germany’s stunningly beautiful Black Forest lies the small and impressively cosmopolitan city of Baden-Baden. Far from the pollution of metropolitan and industrial cities, Baden-Baden is a haven of tranquility where nature takes the limelight. The city fascinates by its distinct atmosphere and history-soaked buildings. One of those is the Hohenbaden Castle – known locally as “the Old Castle” – built in 1102, it was home to the Margraves Baden. The castle is an absolute must-see and from the top, guests can enjoy a magnificent view all over Baden-Baden, the Black Forest region and the Rhine Valley. Baden-Baden’s city center is a car-free zone, and everything is only an easy walk away. For relaxation and a breath of fresh air, visitors love to stroll through the Lichtentaler Allee, a 1.5 mile park and garden. The most beautiful view and the best spot for lovely sunsets can be experienced at the Merkur Mountain – a funicular railway brings guests to the top in only few minutes. The Rose Society Garden sets the perfect place for a keepsake photo where more than 600 different types of roses can be found. The options in Baden-Baden are as manifold as classy. Guaranteed relaxation in the two public thermal spas, excellent hotels, gourmet restaurants, small regional wine cellars and an unbeatable cultural program await guests from all over the world in the “Green City of Short Distances.”
Burg Hohenzollern Reigns Over Swabia with Royal Majesty in SouthWest Germany
Burg Hohenzollern, the ancestral seat of the Prussian Royal House and of the Hohenzollern Princes, is open for visitors. This extraordinary castle up on a small mountain overlooking the Swabian valley is one of the most beautiful castles in all of SouthWest Germany. Hohenzollern is a combination of a museum, an ancestral home, a center for the community and a destination. On any given day, visitors might see a wedding taking place, tours in various languages, young children dressed as kings and queens with crowns and capes and history buffs delighting in the art collection, that includes a significant picture gallery, valuable silver and china as well as the Prussian King’s Crown. An indoor restaurant and substantial gift shop as well as an outdoor café can accommodate all manner of groups and individuals. Visitors park below and can either take the bus up or they can walk for a bit of exercise. There are views in all directions. Year round, the castle is buzzing with all sorts of events from Christmas markets to Shakespeare plays. This year on October 5, the traditional performance of a classical play by William Shakespeare will take place in the castle courtyard. The American Drama Group will perform “Othello” in the original English language.
Hohenzollernschloss Sigmaringen Enchants Visitors with a Real Royal Home Palace and History Galore
Hohenzollernschloss Sigmaringen is the castle palace that belongs to the other line of the Hohenzollern family and is located just 45 minutes south of Burg Hohenzollern. During this time, there are only tours (several times every hour) for individual travelers. Around 50 trained castle guides have contributed to this excellent audio guide so you receive well-founded knowledge combined with a lively narrative art. This exciting guided walk through 1000 years of culture in the footsteps of the Hohenzollern princes provides a detailed insight into family history, the architecture, paintings, furniture and styles in 20 salons, rooms and galleries. Among many special aspects of this special palace that the Hohenzollern call home, the Hohenzollern Castle in Sigmaringen houses one of the largest private weapon collections in Europe with around 3000 rare and precious exhibits in the armory. Still to take place this year is the medieval market in Sigmaringen open for the second time on the 2nd weekend in September. In the unique natural setting of the Prince Park and the palace grounds, visitors experience a fantastic medieval world of experience.
Hohenzollernschloss Sigmaringen
Planned as a Summer Residence, Karlsruhe Palace Anchors the City Center
Between Heidelberg and Stuttgart, work on Margrave Karl Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach’s new residence, “Carols Ruh,” (Carl’s Rest) in the middle of the forest began on 17 June 1715. A lot of time has passed since then and what was initially planned as a summer residence soon became the first and central building of the new town of Karlsruhe. The castle served as the residence and seat of government of the margraves, the electoral princes and grand dukes of Baden. It was not meant to be the center of town when it was first built but the town grew up around the palace. So now, Karlsruhe is at the hub of 32 avenues radiating outwards to form the city of Karlsruhe’s iconic layout, the so-called “Fächer,” or fan. The history of the city and its architecture is concentrated along the “via Triumphalis,” the central axis of the “rays” emanating from the residence. The unique regularity and symmetry can best be seen from the top of the palace tower. The castle It has been home to the Baden State Museum (Badisches Landesmuseum) since 1921.It presents art and historical living environments from pre- and early history, ancient cultures, the Middle Ages, the baroque period and into the 21st century.
For interactive maps and more information on cultural events and destinations in SouthWest Germany and to start planning your trip, please go to SouthWest Germany.
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