German Castles, Part I of Many
While the current travel restrictions here in Germany have really put a damper on ANY travel plans we may have had (and Christmas Markets and ski trips and exploring the countryside of France...), we’re still trying to make the most of exploring the area nearby. And, as a plus, we’ll be all set to be the best tour guides when we get visitors (hint, hint, please come visit).
All of these castles are in our state, Rheinland-Pfalz, and are less than an hour from where we live. Some require hiking and some don’t. Either way, they’re a great way to explore and get some fresh air while still staying socially-distanced. It amazes me that we have historical landmarks like this so close, and I want to take advantage of seeing them while we have a chance!
1. Burg Frankenstein
This one was a bit of a hike. The trail to the hill is pretty steep, and the castle is right on the edge overlooking the village of Frankenstein below. When we visited, Luna tried to show off and jumped over one of the walls. Thankfully, Devin caught her by her harness and pulled her back up to safety. Even so, this one is kid and dog friendly. Just be mindful of the fur babies and human babies because, like I said, the hill is pretty steep.
One thing I really liked about this particular castle was that the ruins were still mostly intact. The roof was missing but I could still get a pretty good idea of the massive structure it used to be and appreciate the strategic location up on the hill, with a beautiful view of the village below (I’m pretty sure that whoever built this castle cared more about the strategic location than the view, but you never know). There’s a little parking lot conveniently located at the bottom of the trail by the church, but also street parking if that’s full. There are even picnic tables right next to the ruins, in case you need a snack break. It was pretty cold for us though (I was still adapting to the non-Florida weather), so we just hiked around and then went back to the comfort of our warm car. I can definitely see it being a fun place for lunch when the weather is nicer.
If the hike to the castle isn’t enough, the trail keeps going past the castle ruins. I was already tired out though, and didn’t feel like showing off how out of shape I had gotten in quarantine. All in all, this was well worth the visit. The drive there was gorgeous, there were great photo ops at the ruins and we got a bit of a workout in. What more could a girl ask for?
2. Burg Lichtenberg
This was the first castle we visited! A few weeks after we were free from our initial quarantine after arriving in Germany (soooo very glad to be done with that), we ventured out into the countryside to this lovely place. We were able to park right at the base of the castle. It looked like there were some cute little shops nearby, probably open in non-COVID times. The ruins were pretty expansive and spacious. It was fun to explore and imagine what went on here when it was actually a castle. The tourist center and the church were closed, but I’m guessing they have more information on the history when everything is open.
Since it was so close to a parking lot, it’s definitely dog and kid-friendly. As you can see in the pictures, it’s also very open. I think we were the only ones there when we visited, so it was a good place for all of us to enjoy some space from each other that we couldn’t get in quarantine (did I mention how glad I am to be free?).
Construction for the castle began in 1200…it was mind-blowing (for me at least, probably not so much for Luna), to think that we were surrounded by walls that were over 900 years old! As we were walking to the car, I realized that I didn’t get any pictures of me and they were mostly of Luna and Devin, so enjoy some candids of those two cuties :)
3. Burgruine Frauenberg
We visited on a late, snowy afternoon, adding to the magical experience of these castle ruins. The hike up and down wasn’t bad at all. It was a little slippery with the snow and the bridges were kind of high up (I can be very conscious of heights), but Luna enjoyed the trek and her humans did too. We were able to park close enough to be within walking distance but far enough to contribute to my daily step goal.
It was cloudy and dusky, so I really appreciated the lights at the castle. It looked like the stairs up the towers were operable, but they were locked (which was fine by me because that sort of thing is Devin’s cup of tea and not so much mine). There weren’t very many people when we were there, but it seemed pretty well-kept and tourist-friendly. Like everywhere we’ve been so far, the drive to the castle was GORGEOUS!
I really can’t get over the views here, especially with the snow. It also seemed like there were a decent amount of hiking trails nearby, but we were cold and it was dark by the time we left, so we just headed back home. I think the pictures speak for themselves with how beautiful this castle was and it’s by far my favorite we’ve been to because of the scenery.
I see many castle visits in my future, so stay tuned for more of these types of posts!
XOXO,
Natasha
