Castle ruins fire the imagination and can be a real adventure not only for children. For families, they are therefore the perfect hiking destination. We have put together the most beautiful castle ruin hikes in southern Germany for you.
What many particularly appreciate when hiking, in addition to the peace and quiet and the experience of nature, is a great view. Especially beautiful vantage points are naturally medieval castles. Because back then, it was essential for knights and their entourage to have a good view of the surroundings. They had to recognize early on whether enemies were approaching. So it is no coincidence that many hiking routes with a particularly great panorama lead past old castle ruins. We have collected a few particularly beautiful of these routes here.
1 Hohentwiel Fortress Ruin near Singen in Baden-Wuerttemberg
This castle ruins hike leads from Singen to the largest fortress ruin in Germany on Hohentwiel. Some say that from there you have the most beautiful view in all of Baden-Württemberg: on a clear day you can see the volcanic mountains of the Hegau, Lake Constance as well as the Alps in the distance.
The hike is also a little lesson in history and geology. On the way to the castle you walk along a volcanic path. Information boards explain the eventful history of the earth until you finally reach the castle ruins, where a museum awaits you. You can find a detailed description of the tour in the Bergwelten magazine.
2 Hike to the castle ruins Hohenfreyberg and Eisenberg in Allgäu
A hike to the twin ruins of Hohenfreyberg and Eisenberg in Pfronten in the Allgäu region is particularly exciting for children. The half-day tour ” Dragon’s View” starts at the Pfronten-Ried tourist information office in the direction of Zell, a district of the community of Eisenberg.
After a short stretch through the Pfronten moor, a small climb to the castle ruins begins. Already now you have the alpine panorama always in view. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the view of the “guardian dragons” – that’s what the locals have always called the Falkenstein and Kienberg mountains.
The hike leads directly through the castle ruins of Hohenfreyberg and Eisenberg and offers pure adventure feeling, especially for children. By the way, the two ruins are only a few meters apart and have an exciting history:
In 1418, the eldest son of the owner of Eisenberg Castle has his inheritance paid out. With the money he builds a castle directly on the neighboring peak to outdo his father. But his vanity does not pay off. The knighthood is already dying, and the construction costs are driving the family to ruin. In 1646, both castles are finally burned down by the Tyrolean government and remain ruins to this day.
3 From Pottenstein Castle to the Devil’s Cave – Castle Hike in Upper Franconia
On this hike, the castle is not the destination, but the starting point. You start directly at the parking lot below Pottenstein Castle in Pottenstein, Upper Franconia. So you can explore it directly or leave it to the left to visit it when you return after the hike.
From there, follow the well-known Frankenweg trail through a shady mixed forest along the Weihersbach stream. After a fork in the road, turn right to the Devil’s Cave.
The entrance to the Devil’s Cave is already impressive: the opening in the rock measures 45 by 18 meters. It opens the way into three large cave rooms. Inside, it’s so quiet that you can even hear the water drops as they fall from the ceiling to the floor. Thanks to these special acoustics, concerts even take place in the cave.
Besides impressive stalactites and stalagmites, you will find the completely preserved skeleton of a cave bear that lived in the cave a long time ago – an adventure not only for children.
Pottenstein Castle is open in summer from 10 am to 5 pm. Here you can find admission prices and opening hours.
4 Hike to Hohenwaldeck Castle on Schliersee Lake
The ruins of Hohenwaldeck Castle from the 13th century are located above Schliersee. The castle itself is badly dilapidated, its former size can only be guessed at, as it was badly damaged in a rock fall in 1480. The massive moss-covered boulders can still be seen today. The view from Hohenwaldeck to Schliersee is all the more impressive for it.
The hike starts at the Schliersee train station. Thus, the tour is also easy to do with public transportation. From the train station, you will pass the “Vitalwelt” with swimming pool and head towards the lake. After a short stretch directly along the lakeshore, you will come across a small stream in front of the outdoor pool. Here you can cross the main road. From now on the hiking trail W6 is signposted in the direction of the castle ruin Hohenwaldeck. You can find a detailed description here.
5 Hike to Wartstein Castle in the Swabian Alb
West of Ehingen-Erbstetten, above the Lauter Valley, lies the ruins of Wartstein Castle. It can be reached via various hiking trails and is freely accessible. If you have conquered the manageable 148 meters in altitude to the ruin, you can enjoy an incomparable view of the Great Lauter Valley from here.
You can hike to the castle, for example, via the “BurgFelsenPfad”. The starting point is the parking lot for hikers in Ehingen-Unterwilzingen. The approximately seven-kilometer-long circular trail is well signposted and offers everything the region is known for: water, rocks, castles, magnificent vantage points and an emerging primeval forest. It is not for nothing that the region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Schwäbisch Alb biosphere area.
Wartstein Castle itself also bears witness to a long history: After the conquest of the area by Emperor Barbarossa, it was built by the Count of Wartstein in 1208. It was one of the boldest rock castles in the Lauter Valley. Today, only the shield wall remains, which you can climb via a spiral staircase. The view from up there is worth it.
