Germany's Castles: Witnesses of Stone and Time

Germany is a land of castles. Not only because of their number, but also, because of the way in which each one of them seems to stand the test of time on its walls. Some stand proudly, as if the Middle Ages were not over. Others, eroded by history, embrace ruin with the same dignity with which they once protected their inhabitants. To walk through them is to enter a world of nobles, ghosts and legends.

In Hesse, Braunfels Castle stands on a hill, imposing and austere. From a distance, its silhouette of jagged towers looks like an engraving from another era. It has belonged to the same family for almost 800 years and within its walls is a collection of weapons and relics that smell of wax and old wood.

Further south, in Baden-Württemberg, Hochburg Castle has learned to live with oblivion. Its broken, moss-covered walls tell stories of battles and abandonment. Trees grow among the loose stones and have become the new guardians of the fortress.

In Bavaria, Mespelbrunn defies the idea of the imposing castle. Small, discreet, surrounded by water and protected by the dense Spessart forests, it seems more like a refuge than a fortress. Here, history does not impose itself; rather, it glides with the softness of the reflection of its towers in the pond. It is said that bandits and knights errant hid among these trees.

On the edge of a cliff in the Swabian Alb, Lichtenstein Castle defies gravity. Its drawbridge creaks under the feet of visitors. In the Knight's Hall, empty suits of armour seem to await the signal for a duel.

Hamburg has a castle that is not majestic, but full of stories. Bergedorf was a fortress, then an administrative centre, and today it is a museum that preserves the memory of the region. Its walls have seen centuries of change and still retain the weight of decisions once made in its halls.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, Satzvey revives the Middle Ages with jousting, markets and performances that transform its courtyards into a living stage. Its reflection in the water makes it seem unreal, as if at any moment it could vanish into the mists of history.

Further east, in Saxony, Kriebstein rises above the Zschopau valley with its medieval structure intact. It is a fairytale castle, with pointed towers and walls that have survived centuries. Inside, a treasure was discovered hidden in a chimney, as if time had wanted to keep one last secret.

Germany has more than 25,000 castles, each with its own voice. To walk through these places is to enter a time that has not entirely gone. In their corridors and towers, in their halls and courtyards, history still breathes, waiting to be heard.

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Photos by: Wikicommons