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The whole ensemble of buildings is characterized by turrets and pinnacles. There are four main towers (Emperor’s Tower, Bishop’s Tower, Margrave’s Tower, Michael’s Tower) and in the castle courtyard there is the Wart Tower. This is a stair tower, which stands by the princely building.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
When a flag flies on this tower, the lord of the castle is present. During our visit there was no flag flying!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe large flight of steps leading into the building is impressive. Above the staircase is a life-size statue of Count Jost Nicklas von Zollern. In his hand he holds a model of the second castle built by him. If you go up the stairs, you enter Hohenzollern Castle and can experience a great tour of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe tour of the castle building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Before you go on the tour, you should definitely download the app with the audio guide on your phone. I found the explanations of the individual areas very interesting. Of course, you can also read the information on the signs in the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tour starts in the pedigree hall. My first thought when looking at the walls – “I want that too” – my second thought “wow, what a job”. The walls in this room show a painted family tree of the Hohenzollerns from the 11th century. All members of the dynasty up to the present are shown. If you are looking for a specific person here, you have to look very closely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom the Hall of Family Trees you can enter the Count’s Hall, the castle’s banquet and dining room, through a double door. This room is the largest room in the castle. What I find impressive are the reddish marble columns that support the high pointed-arched ribbed vault. It looks somewhat like a church, if it weren’t for the large windows and the huge chandeliers on the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom there, the tour continued through the former library, through various private chambers to the queen’s drawing room. Everywhere there is something to discover. From paintings about the history of the castle or people to furniture and objects from the family estate. Once in the queen’s salon, you should also take a look out the window. Here you have a great view of the Albtrauf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does Hohenzollern Castle have three chapels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n After visiting the interiors, we were drawn to the chapels of the castle. There is a Protestant chapel and a Catholic chapel, both of which can be visited, and a Russian Orthodox chapel, which cannot be visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nSt. Michael’s Chapel is Catholic and the only preserved building of the second castle. It thus dates from 1454 to 1461 and was extended around 1853. The lead-glazed painted windows date back to the 13th century and came to Hohenzollern Castle in the 19th century. They were previously in the church of the Stetten monastery, which for a time housed the Zollerian hereditary burial ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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St\u00fcler was commissioned by King Frederick William IV to build the Protestant Christ Chapel. This was to accommodate the different faiths of the family. The Apostle Gate comes from the destroyed Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin. The coffins of Frederick the Great and Frederick William I stood in the church from 1952-1991. After the German reunification they were transferred to Potsdam.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nUnder the Christ Chapel is the Russian Orthodox Resurrection Chapel, which was established by Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia for his wife Kira of Russia. Her grave is also located there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treasury<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The Hohenzollern family treasury can be reached via a separate entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well protected in display cases, you can see here, for example, the tunic of Frederick the Great. It’s funny how a name creates an image in the mind. I had a tall handsome man in mind, but the tunic was so small that it would rather fit me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The highlight is the crown of William II. This is decorated with diamonds and diamonds and corresponds exactly to my idea of a royal crown!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Casemates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Via a descending staircase we reached the casemates. These were discovered only in 2001. They are bomb-proof recreation and storage rooms of the medieval castle. In the former utility rooms, which are located under the former kitchen, you can see historical tableware. On special occasions they are used even today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A narrow spiral staircase leads even deeper under Hohenzollern Castle. Here are rooms that were used as shelters during the siege of 1632.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new staircase then leads back out into the open and you are standing on the bastion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nAddress:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n 72379 Burg Hohenzollern<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nOpening hours:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Castle complex: daily 10-18.30h Showrooms: daily 10-18 h<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admission fees:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Adults: 22,-\u20ac<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\nAre there parking spaces?<\/strong> Yes, there are two large free parking lots available.<\/p> <\/div>
How do I get from the parking lot to the castle?<\/strong> Between the parking lot P1 and the castle runs a free shuttle bus. The parking lot P2 is only opened in case of need and then also served by the shuttle bus. The bus stops in front of the Adlertor. From there it is about 400 meters through the driveway (uphill).<\/p> <\/div>
Does the shuttle bus cost anything?<\/strong> The fare is included in the ticket price.<\/p> <\/div>
When does the shuttle bus run?<\/strong> The bus runs daily from 10-18 o’clock. There may be restrictions in the operation due to weather conditions.<\/p> <\/div>
Is it possible to walk to Hohenzollern Castle?<\/strong> Yes, from the parking lot P1 a signposted hiking trail leads to the Adlertor. The path is partly very steep and you have to climb numerous stairs. It takes about 25 minutes to climb up to the castle.<\/p> <\/div>
How do I get to Hohenzollern Castle by car?<\/strong> By car you can reach the castle via the A 81 Stuttgart-Singen. Take the exit Empfingen and then drive on the B 463 in the direction of Balingen. Turn onto the B 27 to Hechingen and take the exit Hechingen S\u00fcd. From there at the latest, Burg Hohenzollern is signposted. The access road to the castle leads directly to the parking lot.<\/p> <\/div>
How do I get to Hohenzollern Castle by public transport?<\/strong> Take the Deutsche Bahn to Hechingen train station. From the station, take line 306 and the Traufbus (line 344) to the parking lot of the castle. From there you can then take the shuttle bus.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n
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The castle visit was an agenda item of a research trip to Albstadt. The photos are used with the kind permission of the PR & Media department of Hohenzollern Castle.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"High on the Zollerberg mountain in the Swabian Alb lies Hohenzollern Castle. It is visible far across the country and is one of the most famous sights in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[380],"tags":[89,85],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Hohenzollern Castle - one of the most beautiful castles in Germany<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n