After a solo tour of Schloss Lichtenstein, we arrived at Burg Hohenzollern to find that they're in…read morefull Christmas Markets season. The place was crowded and lively and quite busy. You'll park in a lower parking lot adjacent to the gift shop. A shuttle van will bring you almost to the entrance of the castle. From there, it's a bit of a walk. It is barely handicapped accessible though the castle itself is not at all wheelchair friendly and many rooms require transiting a number of stairs. The current castle was built between 1846 and 1867 in a Gothic Revival style and influenced by the Châteaux of the Loire Valley. The exterior is regal, dominating the hill it resides on. Inside, each room is decorated with period furniture and artifacts that were owned by Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. The vault in the basement contains the Crown of Wilhelm II and a uniform that belonged to King Frederick the Great. No photographs allowed in that room but the rest of the castle, absolutely. [Review 21244 overall - 248 in Germany - 209 of 2024.]

Beautiful castle! Pretty views from the top. But getting there from Stuttgart was really…read morebreathtaking as well. We took public transportation which is not recommended. It took 3 hours one way to get there by trains and bus. If you have a car it takes an hour. I would say it was worth it, but we were exhausted by the end of the day. The castle had a cafe that actually tasted pretty good.

It was cold cold cold as we drove up the curvy road to the castle and parked the car in a snowy…read moreparking lot. Schloss Lichtenstein is a privately owned castle but it's open for tours. The location dates back to around 1100 and despite being destroyed in twice in the 13th century, a new castle was built adjacent in 1390. It was eventually acquired by King Frederick I of Württemberg in 1802 who rebuilt it into a hunting lodge. The modern castle was added to it in 1840-1842. It has been updated and restored in the 20th century. Despite the cold, it was a clear and dry day. We did the guided tour (in English!) and had a great walk throughout. Our guide pointed out several of the interesting features including the main dining hall, some of the entertainment areas and of course, the tremendous view of the valley. Note that photographs inside the castle are not permitted. The castle is stunning and well worth walking the grounds and trying for a tour. [Review 21243 overall - 247 in Germany - 208 of 2024.]

We were driving from Munich to the edge of France, so this was somewhat at the halfway point, so we…read moreused it as a place to stretch our legs. It is pretty amazing to see it up close, and there are many vantage points on the grounds to view the surrounding countryside. We chose not to do the tour, since it is only given in German and we didn't speak the language, so we just walked around the grounds and took pictures. There was scaffolding up on part of it, but it was still neat to see. There are many better castles in terms of larger grounds, well furnished interiors and tours in English, so I would say go to Coburg or others if you could only go to one. But if you have time to visit other castles on your trip, this is a pretty stop.

Marktplatz is the main central courtyard area in the charming, lovely university town of Tubingen…read more There is a wide variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars which all sprawl out from this area. It's a beautiful area to also just sit and do some people watching as well as take in the unique architecture and historic sights when the weather is nice. Also, the street performers like to hang out here, so that's always good for some entertainment. I was here in the dead middle of winter, so I imagine there was not nearly as much going on as there would be in the lively summer, but I still enjoyed it. Definitely worth spending some time here, just enjoying the simplicity & beauty of old southern Germany while in the area.

Schoener historischer Stadtkern Suesser Rathausread more

Nighttime in Stuttgart and in November, the Christmas markets and Christmas decorations are in full…read moreswing. A little too cold to hang out for too long (Unless you're wearing a beer coat. You know what a beer coat is, right?) but plenty of time to enjoy the season! Schlossplatz is the largest open square in the city and dates back to the 1800's when it was built as a parade ground. There is a very crowded Christmas market here with security checking COVID passes at the entrance. A little too dense with people for me so we walked the square and took pictures. Absolutely perfect! [Review 16405 overall - 210 in Germany - 1912 of 2021.]

Went to Stuttgart for a day trip and went to Schlossplatz. It is a nice place to visit. Plenty of…read morecafes and beer gardens around the place. Was busy and loads of people hanging around the area. The weather was great & so was the atmosphere. Looking forward to going back there again

Don't miss this experience on your trip to Esslingen! Get the best views of the city here!…read more The "Berg" or fortresss in Esslingen is comprised of two towers and a long wall and can be seen from a distance when you're approaching the city from the hill. It's a nice workout to walk up, either by the steep stairs or the pathway up. At the top are gorgeous views of the city of Esslingen, an expansive grass area great for picnics or taking a break, and even a restaurant.

Esslingen castle is the most famous sightseeing in Esslingen am Neckar, favourite place to walking…read morefor tourists and inhabitants of the city as well. Place to relax and enjoy solitude in a tranquil environment only a few steps away from noisy city. I should mention that the way to the top of the hill is short but not so easy because of its quite steep rise (in my opinion). But from the very top of the hill you'll be rewarded by amazing view over Esslingen which is especially great at night!!!