The Best Castles in the Black Forest
The Black Forest or Schwarzwald in German is a large forested hill range in the Southwest of Germany. The Black Forest borders the Rhine Valley and it is close to Switzerland and France. You can find many castles and castle ruins in the Black Forest in Germany. And most of these historic castles can be visited.
In this post you will find the best Medieval, Baroque and Gothic Castles in the Black Forest. I will share the history of these historic buildings and you will find visitor information so you can start planning your trip.
At the end of the post you’ll find a map with the castles in Germany’s Black Forest. To make the planning of your trip to one of these 23 castles in Schwarwald even easier.
Castles in the Black Forest
Schloss Karlsruhe
Where: Karlsruhe – Built: 18th century – Style: Baroque
Karlsruhe Palace is an early 18th century palace. For almost 200 years the palace served as the residence and seat of government fort he Margraves, the Electoral Prices and Grand Dukes of Baden.
The Baroque appearance of the palace was added in the late 18th century, when the palace was extended and remodeled. During these remodels the tower was connected to the palace and dome was added.
In the Second World War the palace was severly damaged. The exteriors have been reconstructed but not the interios. Today the Palace is home to the Badische Landesmuseum (Baden State Museum).
Karlsruhe Palace visitor information: The palace and museum is open Tuesday-Sunday. Visit the website.
Address: Schlossbezirk 10, 76131 Karlsruhe
Burg Hohenzollern
Where: Bisingen – Built: 19th century – Style: Gothic Revival
Hohenzollern Castle is the ancestral seat of the Prussian Royal House and the Hohenzollern Princes. It is the third castle that stands on this hilltop (the previous two being destroyed).
Between 1846 and 1867 the current castle was built by King Frederik William IV of Prussia. The castle is inspired by English Gothic Revival architecture and the Chateux of the Loire Valley. No member of the Hohenzollern family lived in the castle. It was briefly the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany (the son of Kaiser Wilhelm II).
At the castle you will find historic artifcats of the Prussian empire, personal items of King Frederick the Great, and a letter from US presidenct George Washington.
Hohenzollern Castle visitor information: The castle is open for visitors. For current openng times you can visit the website. (note: tickets for the castle can only be bought online).
Address: 72379 Burg Hohenzollern, Germany
Rastatt Residenzschloss
Where: Rastatt – Built: 18th century – Style: Baroque
Rastatt Residential Palace is a Baroque palace built in the early 18th century. The palace is designed by Italian architect Domenico Egidio Rossi for the Margrave Louis William of Baden-Baden.
Rastatt Palace is the oldest Baroque residence in the Upper-Rhine area in Germany. And it was inspired by the Palaces of Versailled and Vienna. Inside you’ll find an impressive Baroque palece with private and state apartments that have frescoes by Italian artists, tapestries, and Baroque furniture.
Rastatt Palace visitor information: You can tour the palace which also houses the Military History Museum and the Memorial to Freedom Movements in German History. Visit the website.
Address: Herrenstrasse 18 – 20, 76437 Rastatt, Germany
Schloss Favorite
Where: Rastatt – Built: 18th century – Style: Baroque
Rastatt Favorite Palace is the oldest “porcelain palace” in Germany. And it’s the only one that has remained almost untouched. The Baroque palace was built between 1710 and 1727 for Margrave Sibylla Augusta of Baden-Baden. This Palace was used for several activities such as hunting, concerts and banquets.
The interiors of Favorite Palace are opulent, and the Florentiner Kabinett (Florentine Room) is the only one of its kind in Europe. The 758 panels cover the walls in a kaleidoscope of color.
Favorite Palace is called the Porcelain Palace because it has a large collection of Asian and European porcelain, glass and faience. It is the world’s largest collectin of early Meissen porcelain. Surrounding the palace is and English landscape garden.
Schloss Favorite visitor information: The palace is open for visitors. For the latest opening times, visit the website.
Address: Am Schloß Favorite 5, 76437 Rastatt, Germany
Schloss Donaueschingen
Where: Donaueschingen – Built: 18th century – Style: Baroque
The Princely Fürstenberg Residential Palace also known as Palace Donaueschingen is the main residence of the Fürstenberg family. The Fürstenberg family is one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe. The Baroque Palace was built in 1723 by Prince Josef Wilhelm Ernst. In the late 19th century the palace was extensively renovated in Belle Epoque style. Surrounding the palace is one of the largest landscape parks in Southwest Germany.
Schloss Donauschingen visitor information: The Palace and garden are open for guided tours (only by appointment). Special events are also held at the palace. Visit the website for more information.
Address: Fürstenbergstraße 2, 78166 Donaueschingen, Germany
Fürstenberg Schloss in Wolfach
Where: Wolfach – Built: 15th & 17th century
Wolfach Castle is one of the largest palaces in central Baden. The caste stands in the city center of Wolfach and dates back to the 15th century. In the 17th century the castle was extended and renovated. Today the Wolfach City Museum is housed in the castle.
Address: Hauptstraße 40, 77709 Wolfach, Germany
Schloss Neuenbürg
Where: Neuenbürg – Built: 13th and 16th century – Style: Renaissance
Neuenbürg Castle is a 13th century castle in the Northern part of the Black Forest. The original castle was built by the Counts of Calw-Vaihingen. And the castle was briefly owned by the Habsburg royal family.
In the 16th century the renovation and extension gave the castle its Renaissance appearance. At the castle you’ll find a location from the Badisches Landesmuseum showing cultural and historic exhibitions. The estate also includes a restaurant and the 13th century St. George’s Church.
Opposite the castle you can also find remains of the ruined Waldenburg.
Visitor information: The castle and museum are open for visitors. For the latest opening times you can visit the website.
Address: Hintere Schloßsteige, 75305 Neuenbürg, Germany
Wasserschloss Glatt
Where: Glatt – Built: 13th & 16th century – Style: Renaissance
The moated Glatt Castle is one of the few water castles left in Germany. It is also one of the oldest Renaissance castles in Southern Germany. The original castle was built in the 13th century and in the 16th century the castle was given its Renaissance style.
Today the Castle is a museum divided over four subjects: a Castle museum, an Aristocratic Museum, a Farm museum, and the Glatt Castle gallery.
Glatt Castle visitor information: The castle is open April-October; Tuesday-Sunday. Visit the website.
Address: Schloß 1, 72172 Sulz am Neckar, Germany
Schloss Bonndorf
Where: Bonndorf – Built: 16th & 18th century – Style: Baroque
Bonndorf Palace was built as a watercastle i the late 16th century. Between 1723 and 1727 the castle was turned into a Baroque country palace. Today Bonndorf Palaces houses a modern art museum with the main focus on the art development of Southern Baden.
Address: Schlossstrasse 9, 79848 Bonndorf
Schloss Staufenberg
The history of Staufenberg Castle goes back 1000 years. But its in 1693 that the Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm of Baden-Baden bought the castle. And he extended the castle into its Romantic style that you see today. The castle is still owned by the Baden family and it is now a winery with restaurant.
Address: Schloss, 77770 Durbach, Germany
Neues Schloss Baden-Baden
Where: Baden-Baden – Built: 15th century – Status: Private/Future Hotel
The new castle on the Florentinerberg in Baden-Baden was used as the new residence of the Margraves of Baden in the 15th century.
In 2003 the Castle was sold to a Kuwaiti investment group who want to turn the castle into a luxury hotel. However 20 years later this till hasn’t happened.
Neues Schloss visitor information: The castle is in private hands. But you can walk up to the terrace in front of the castle. Here you also have a gorgeous view of Baden-Baden.
Address: Neues Schloss, Schlossstraße 22, 76530 Baden-Baden
Schloss Eberstein
Where: Gernsbach – Built: 13th century – Status: Castle hotel
High above the Murg valley stands Castle Eberstein. The castle was built in 1272 by the Counts of Eberstein. And since the 17th century the Margraves of Baden owned the castle.
Today the castle is privately owned and used as a hotel. Book your stay at Castle Eberstein (*affiliate link)
Address: Schloss Eberstein 1, 76593 Gernsbach, Germany
See also: Castles Near Freiburg im Breisgau
Castle Ruins in the Black Forest
As eveywhere in Germany, you will find many castle ruins in the Black Forest. Many of which are interesting to visit due to its historical importance and location. Often there are hiking trails to the castles and some also offer a café or restaurant.
Altes Schloss Hohenbaden
Where: Baden-Baden – Built: 12th & 14th century – Status: Ruined
Hohenbaden Old Castle is one of the oldest castles that were once in possession of the margraves of Baden. The Oberburg (or Upper Castle) is the oldest part of the castle which is built on a crest on the southwestern side of the Battert Hill. The castle was expanded with The Unterburg (or Lower Castle) in the 14th century. The margraves moved to the Neues Schloss (New Palace) in the 15th century and the castle was left to ruin. In the 19th century the castle ruins became popular again when Baden-Baden became a spa destination. This interest in the Hohenbaden Old Castle continues to this day.
Altes Schloss Hohenbaden visitor information: The castle can be visited daily. There’s also a resturant (open Tuesday-Sunday) and a terrace (open Tuesday-Sunday). Visit the website.
Address: Alter Schloßweg 10, 76532 Baden-Baden, Germany
Burg Rötteln
Where: Lörrach – Built: 11th century – Status: ruined
Rötteln Castle is an 11th century castle located on a hill above the Wiesen valley. The castle was one of the most powerful Medieval fortification in South-West Germany and it is now the third largest ruined castle in Baden.
The 300 meter wide castle is divided into an upper ward and a lower ward, with a small defensive tower to the west. There is a drawbridge between the upper and lower ward.
In 1678 the castle was damaged by French troops and left to ruin. In the 19th century the castle became popular again and it is now one of the most visited castle ruins in the Upper Rhine Valley.
Rötteln Castle visitor information: You can visit the castle and the tower gives a 360° view of the town of Lörrach and the Wiesen valley (and the Swiss Alps as well). Visit the website.
Address: Burg Rötteln, 79541 Lörrach, Germany
Burg Landeck
Where: Klingenmünster – Built: 12th century – Status: Ruined
Landeck Castle is a 12th century castle places on a hill overlooking the Vorderpalz and the Black Forest. Burg Landeck is one of thre castles surrounding Klingenmünster that had to protect the Benedictine Abbey in the neighbourhood.
The Castle got destroyed in the 17th century.
Burg Landeck visitor information: The ruins of the castle are open to visitors. There is a tavern at the hilltop castle with a terrace that has views over the surrounding landscape. Visit the website.
Address: Weinstraße, 76889 Klingenmünster
Burg Zavelstein
Where: Zavelstein – Built: 13th century – Status: ruined
Castle Zavelstein is a former hill castle which is now a castle ruin. The castle was built in the 13th century and owned by the Counts of Württemberg.
In 1692 the castle got destroyed by French troops. What remains is the Romanesque inner ward, two neck ditches, the gateway, the ruins of the palas, and a vaulted cellar.
Zavelstein Castle visitor information: There are hiking trails leading to the ruin which you can visit any day.
Address: Bergfried, 75385 Bad Teinach-Zavelstein, Germany
Hohenschramberg
Where: Schramberg – Built: 15th century – Status: ruin
Hohenschramberg is a 15th century castle ruin. It was one of the last castles built in Germany. What remains of this fortification are the Western bastion with upper courtyard, the chapel tower, the middle and rear of the castle, the Rosstal and the foundation walls of the bathhouse and bakery.
Hohenschramberg Castle visitor information: You can visit the castle. There is also an audio tour which you can download on you mobile phone for extra information.
Address: Hohenschramberg 1, 78713 Schramberg, Germany
Hochburg bei Emmendingen
Where: Emmendingen – Built: 11th century – Status: ruined
Hochburg Castle is one the largest ruined castles in the Black Forest. The castle – at the foothills of the Black Forest – was built in the 11th century and is the region’s second largest castle complex after Heidelberg Palace.
The Medieval Castle (which was later turned into a Renaissance palace and fortress) was one of the most important fortress of the region. The ruined castle gives a unique insight into defensive structures from the 12th to the 17th century.
Hochburg Castle visitor information: The castle ruins are open daily 7am-9pm.
Address: Panoramastraße, 79312 Emmendingen, Germany
Hohennagold
Hohhenagold Castle is a ruined castle located on the Schlossberg overlooking the Black Forest. The 12th century castle was built by the Counts of Nagold and later came in the possession of the Counts of Hohenberg and the Counts of Württemberg.
The ruins are well preserved and today you can see the keep behind the curtain walls, a tower and the outer ward with half-round and angular towers.
Hohennagold Castle visitor information: The castle ruins are open daily.
Address: 72202 Nagold, Germany
Yburg
Where: Baden-Baden – Built: 12th century – Status: ruin
On top of the Yberg on the western edge of the Black Forest stands the ruined Yberg castle. The castle was one of three castles that defended the House of Baden.
In the 17th century the castle was destroyed by French troops. In the 19th century the castle becaome popular again. Today the ruins and the Castle Inn are a popaular tourist destination.
Yburg Castle visitor information: The castle is currently closed for preservation work. Visit the website for the latest information.
Address: Burgruine 1, 76534 Baden-Baden, Germany
Burg Badenweiler
Where: Badenweiler – Built: 12th century – Status: Ruin
Badenweiler Castle (also known as Burg Baden/Castle Baden) stands high on a hill, overlooking the spa town Badenweiler and the Badenweiler Kurpark (the spa gardens).
Though the castle first appears in the records in the 12th century. The town Badenweiler is much older than that. Even in Roman times there was a spa in Badenweiler. These bath ruins are important Roman remains in Baden-Württemberg.
The oldest part of the castle is the Great Hall (or Palas) with late Romanesque arched windows. Though most of the castle was destroyed in the 17th century Dutch War. It is still a trip worth taking.
The hill on which the castle stands has many sights. Including a monument to Grand Duke Friedrich I. A garden with medicinal herbs, and The Belvedere, a Neoclassical summerhouse that is now a wedding venue.
Address: Schloßgäßle, 79410 Badenweiler
Burg Windeck
Where: Bühl – Built: 12th century – Status: ruin
Windeck Castle (or Old Windeck Castle) is a ruined spur castle in the county Rastatt. The castle was built around 1200 by the Lords of Windeck. What remains of the castle today are a tower (a bergfried) and parts of the curtain wall. At the foot of the castle is now a hotel and restaurant.
Windeck Castle visitor information: You can walk to the ruined castle
Address: Kappelwindeckstrasse 104, 77815 Bühl / Baden, Duitsland
Burg Hohengeroldseck
Where: Biberach – Built: 13th century – Status: Ruined
Hohengeroldseck Castle was a castle built in 1260 or the Lords of Geroldseck. In 1688 the castle was destroyed by French soldiers. From the original castle a 10 meter high outer walls and the main building have been preserved.
A 45 minute hike up the mountain leads you to the castle ruins. From the hill you also have a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
Hohengeroldseck Castle visitor information: You can vsit the ruins every day.
Address: Schloßberg 8, 77960 Seelbach, Germany
Castles in the Black Forest on a map
The yellow pins are the castle ruins.
