Liechtenstein Castle in Baden-Württemberg

A small but striking castle perched atop a cliff in southern Germany. Thanks to its location, the castle literally “hangs” over the precipice, making it highly recognizable and popular among tourists.


The history of this place dates back to the Middle Ages. The first castle stood here as early as the 12th century, but it was destroyed during wars. Later, a new fortress was built, which also fell into disrepair over time. The castle we see today is not the original medieval structure. It was built in the 19th century in the Neo-Gothic style.

The idea to restore the castle came from Duke Wilhelm of Urach. He was inspired by the novel *Lichtenstein*, written by Wilhelm Hauff. It was this novel that popularized the story of the old castle and made it a symbol of Romanticism. As a result, a new castle was built between 1840 and 1842, which resembles an idealized vision of the Middle Ages more than an actual fortress.

You can only get inside on a guided tour, so we didn’t go in because it’s the kind of place that’s more interesting from the outside. The grounds aren’t very big; 20–30 minutes is plenty of time for a walk and some photos.












How to get there: Parking coordinates: 48.405083, 9.256806. There is no public transportation to the castle; you can check the official website for local tour bus options on weekends.