Relish the pomp and splendour of bygone times

Germany owes a dept of thanks to the over 300 individual states of the old German Reich for its innumerable castles and for the diversity of its cultural scene. The residences of the dukes, princes, numerous counts, prince bishops and abbots with their castles and palaces, parks, royal duke's stables, cavaliers' quarters and chancelleries often formed entire small capital towns. Apart from these miniature residences there are magnificent castle complexes at the main seats of former German princes in European format. Cultural life blossomed at these big and small princely courts.

A traveler will encounter magnificent castles in all parts of Germany. These are being preserved at great cost in top condition, and in conjunction with their surroundings, their new buildings, also august churches containing tombs, and often still furnished and equipped as in their golden age, they bring history alive and create an impressive landscape. Many are still inhabited by aristocratic families, in others there are museums, art collections and picture galleries or public institutions. Numerous castles and palaces are nowadays hotels and restaurants or youth-hotels, where you can enjoy bygone centuries in a wholly personal way.