Hohenzollern Castle

The Hohenzollern Castle is about 300 meters above Hechingen on the summit of the 850 meter high Zollerberg. This castle is one of the most beautiful and well-known castles in Germany, which is especially noticeable on weekends and the many visitors. The castle is still privately owned, but can be visited daily from 10 clock. The entrance fees are between 5 and 12 euros. Of course there is also a restaurant and a beer garden. The castle also hosts regular events such as concerts, cinema and theater performances.

The House of Hohenzollern was first mentioned in person in 1061 ("Wezil et Burchardus de Zolorin"). The first mention of the castle building ("Castro Zolre") dates from 1267. The appearance, extent and equipment of this first castle are unknown, but studies suggest that the castle was built in the first half of the 11th century , For that time, it must have been a large and artistically valuable asset. In contemporary sources, it was praised as the "crown of all castles in Swabia" and as "the vesteste house in Teutonic lands". Nevertheless, it was completely destroyed in 1423.From 1454, the second castle Hohenzollern was built larger and more defensive than before. Later, the castle was built in view of the Thirty Years War fortress, then changed hands several times. However, the structural entertainment was not carried out to the required extent, with the result that it deteriorated rapidly and darbot at the beginning of the 19th century only as a ruin.

Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1819 made the decision to rebuild the ancestral castle of the House of Hohenzollern. Later, as King Frederick William IV, in a letter of 1844 he wrote: "The memory of J.19 is extremely lovely to me and a beautiful dream, especially as the sunset we saw from one of the castle bastions ... Well is a childhood dream - a wish to see the Hohenzollern re-habitable ... "From 1850 he realized his long-cherished dream and created one of the most imposing castles in Germany in the neo-Gothic style. It consists of a multi-towered castle and fortifications that represent a masterpiece of 19th-century war architecture. Their addition with civil architectural elements lend a special charm. The location of the castle on the most beautiful mountain in Schwaben gives it the picturesque appearance.Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia had the castle from 1952 with artistically valuable and historically significant objects to the history of Prussia and its kings outfit. In addition to paintings by well-known painters (Honthorst, Pesne, von Werner, von Lenbach, Laszlo) this includes, in particular, gold and silversmith works from the 17th to the 19th century.In 1970 and 1978, earthquakes caused great damage. All maintenance, new construction and alterations must also be financed from the entrance fees in the future. As a neat and as a structurally perfect facility, the castle presents itself to visitors from all over the world.