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Germany Travel Guide

Sleep Like a King: 10 Castle Hotels in Germany

Schloss Lieser

There's no shortage of castles in Germany. Customs houses and fortresses known as Burg line the riverbanks and crown nearly every hilltop. Scattered throughout the countryside are the more ornate homes of landed gentry and archbishops, or Schloss. While gorgeous to look at from the outside, many castles also are unique overnight lodgings. Here are 10 of our favorite places to sleep like a king or queen in Germany—places you can afford even if you're not royalty.—Courtney Tenz

Burg Hotel Hornberg
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Burg Hotel Hornberg

In the Neckar Valley, this charming castle is a former home to knights, and their portraits and armor provide nice aesthetic touches throughout. Located amid sloping vineyards, the hotel couldn't be in a more romantic location. A panoramic view overlooking the Neckar Valley makes for an awesome dinner backdrop. The rooms are comfortable and the exterior authentic.

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Burg Rabenstein
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Burg Rabenstein

The breathtaking scenery of the Bavarian Alps provided the backdrop for a number of castles during the days of the Bavarian dynasty, made most famous by King Ludwig. While you still can't overnight at the world-famous Neuschwanstein, the Bavarian Tourist office will set up a “sight sleeping” stay at one of the area castles, including this 800-year-old knight's manor set atop a rocky crag near some of Bavaria's finest hiking trails.

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Schlosshotel Munchhausen
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Schlosshotel Munchhausen

Set in the countryside just an hour's drive from Hanover, the estate near Munchhausen was seen on televisions around the world when President Obama visited in 2015. More than 440 years old, the castle has been renovated several times, creating large, modern rooms of a five-star standard. Recall the medieval days in the knight's hall where you can take afternoon tea while seated beside a roaring fire. Stroll through acres of English gardens or swim in the pool overlooking the moat before dining in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

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Walter Schiesswohl, Eydos
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Schloss Steinburg

This gorgeous palace in the heart of Würzburg draws tourists year round, so it's the perfect city to live like royalty. Set atop the vineyards that make the Franken wine unique to the region, Schloss Steinburg comprises three buildings with its main “Dreamy Castle” constructed atop monastery ruins just a bit over a century ago. A spa inside the hotel has panoramic views of the city, and rooms renovated in 2005 combine modernity amenities with original details from 1898.

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Günther Koseck
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Dornroeschenschloss Sababurg

The Fairy Tale Road is filled with the ruins of old castles and stone manor houses that are a testament to the grandiosity of the area where the Grimm Brothers once lived. The brothers put to paper many of the tales spun by local women, enhancing them with descriptions of some of the local castles in the surroundings, including this limestone abode in the countryside near Sababurg, named today after Sleeping Beauty. In tracing the route of the Grimms, historians have concluded that the turrets in this 400-year-old castle were where Aurora was said to be imprisoned, and the owners have taken pains to bring that legend to life here by including a weekly play of the fairy tale and a path tracing the story's steps around castle grounds. After a fire in the main building left the large dining halls empty, the hotel was reconstructed in the towers, with many of the rooms recently renovated to modern standards, including whirlpool baths. Dinner on the terrace overlooks a local animal park where deer and bison graze.

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Burg Trendelburg
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Burg Trendelburg

Rapunzel is said to have let down her hair from the 40-meter-tall tower of this castle, built as a safe house for travelers on the road from Kassel to Bremen. While the town itself is lackluster, the castle retains the look and charms of the 14th century but with the modern convenience of a sauna. The owners play up the charm of the fairy tale throughout the castle with frequent plays of Rapunzel letting down her hair; employees adorned in the dirndls and jester clothing of yesteryear stoke a roaring fireplace in the dining room.

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Schloss Lieser
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Schloss Lieser

Set to open in December 2016 as a five-star grand hotel, this castle has been saved from the ruins in one of Germany's prettiest wine-growing regions, the Mosel Valley. Built in 1885 for an influential industrial family, this may be one of the prettiest castle hotels, as great pains were taken to save the intricate details in the interior, from gorgeous stained glass to marble mosaics. Modern amenities, including a spa, will make the stay so fantastic, you won't want to leave to explore the pretty vineyards nearby.

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Schloss Dennenlohe
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Schloss Dennenlohe

Sleeping in this Baroque castle in the midst of 25 hectares of gardens feels like a dream. Your hosts are real-life royalty, Baron and Baroness Susskind, the seventh generation to have inherited the castle purchased from the bishops of Augsburg. It is said to date back to 1167 and retains some of its original charm though completely modernized. Also on the grounds are a brandy distillery, a chapel, and a cozy café.

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Wartburg Hotel
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Wartburg Hotel

The Wartburg Castle is considered one of Germany's most magnificent, making for an awesome view from the nearby castle hotel. Part of the Romantik Hotel chain, the 5-star hotel in this castle was constructed in 1913 . Wartburg has both modern rooms and has kid-friendly offerings that don't distract from its old-world charms. Stay near where Martin Luther and Johann Sebastian Bach have visited to see if the countryside offers you the same inspiration.

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Christian Unbehauen
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Burg Colmberg

Just a few miles from the heavily frequented tourist town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, this 13th-century castle has retained its original medieval walls. Step inside the gated courtyard of this hilltop fortress and enjoy the pastoral view. From the outside, the castle feel is authentic; inside, the rooms maintain a high standard of modern comfort. The fireplace in the entryway is often on and in season, and the restaurant serves venison from the castle's own hunting grounds.

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Hotel Schoenburg
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Hotel Schoenburg

Castles line the banks of the Rhine River thanks to its long history as a trading route for seafarers. High on the hillside near the famous Lorelei rock, a geographical feature that is said to have grounded many a boat in its day, sits the Hotel Schoenburg. Replete with chapel and prison tower, the 12th-century castle complex is a treat for those on a tour of the many castles and vineyards along the riverside. There's a terrace with a view overlooking St. Goar and the river, a top-notch restaurant and historic rooms lend the newly restored hotel charm.

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