30 Old Ruins to Explore in Germany

Plön Castle is one of the largest castles in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein and the only one located on a hill. It was once a military academy and a boarding school, now it is home to an opticians training centre. Visitors can explore the huge grounds surrounding the castle, admire the many lakes of the region, explore the nearby city, or even take a castle tour and find out about its use today and its historical role.

Rheinfels Castle is a castle ruin located above the left bank of the Rhine River in Sankt Goar, Germany. It was founded in 1245 by Count Diether V of Katzenelnbogen. The castle was damaged by French Revolutionary Army troops in 1797. It is the largest castle overlooking the Rhine, and historically covered five times its current area. While much of the castle is a ruin, some of the outer buildings now housed a luxury hotel, "wellness" centre, restaurant. and a museum.

The Rudelsburg is a hilltop castle above Saaleck in the Burgenland district in Saxony-Anhalt. It is about 85 meters above the south bank of the Saale on a rocky ridge made of shell limestone. The castle was probably built by the bishops of Naumburg in the High Middle Ages to secure trade routes such as the Via Regia with the Saale bridge in Bad Kösen. At times the castle served as a residence for various noble families until it was destroyed in the Thirty Years War and then fell into disrepair.

The Neuenbürg Castle is located in Baden-Wuerttemberg in the region Northern Black Forest , between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart . Its location on a mountain of the Enz above the city of Neuenbürg is striking. The name Neuenburg derives from German for "new castle". From 1656 until 1746 it was a secondary residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Weissenfels.

Tree-covered hill of 456 metres (1,496 ft) located in the area of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. Fortified structures had been built on the Schlossberg since the 11th century. Remains of some of them are still visible today. The tower located on the hill (Schloßbergturm) offers a unique panoramic view over the whole town and its vicinity.

A ruined castle standing on a hilltop slopped with vine gardens. The archbishops of Cologne and Trier were joined owners of the castle from the 13th century, resulting in each half of the castle having its own towers, buildings, and entrances. The castle fell into despair in the early 16th century and was partly restored in 19th century. It is open to the public in certain months of the year, for an entry fee.

A Roman amphitheater used for gladiator events and animal shows. The theatre was constructed in the 2nd centuary A.D and could accomodate about 20,000 people. The cellar underneath the amphitheater was used to store animals and prisoners waiting to be executed.

Valentin submarine pens are the second-largest above-ground bunker in Europe and the most visible legacy of three major Nazi armament projects that have transformed a predominantly agricultural region since the mid-1930s. The factory was under construction from 1943 to March 1945 using forced labor, but was damaged by air-raids and unfinished by the end of the war. The Valentin factory was the largest fortified U-boat facility in Germany and was second only to those built at Brest in France.

It was built on a spur over Nohfelden village in Saarland and was first mentioned in 1285. In 1490, after the death of Duke Louis the Black, his sons Kaspar and Alexander ruled the duchy jointly for a year. Then, Alexander, had his older brother locked up in the castle, claiming that Kaspar was mad. Kaspar remained locked up in Veldenz castle until his death in 1527, even after Alexander's death. The castle was frequently damaged in the many wars of the 17th century but was always repaired.

Originally a medieval fortress, which was intended as a secure stop along the way of German emperors during their hunting trips to the Harz. This romantic baroque castle that towering 300 ft above the town of Wernigerode. It is open to the public and one of the most frequently visited in Saxony-Anhalt. One of the beautiful locations in this area which is historically important too.