48 Palaces to Explore in Germany

First mentioned around 1271 A.D, Sooneck Castle is located in the upper middle valley of the Rhine. The castle was destroyed in 1282 after a siege by the troops of King Rudolph I. After rebuilding it 1346, it was destroyed again during the War of the Palatine Succession in 1689 by troops of King Louis XIV of France. The current structure was built between 1834 and 1861 as a hunting lodge.

Stolzenfels Castle is a medieval fortress castle turned into a palace, near Koblenz on the left bank of the Rhine. Stolzenfels was gifted to the Prussian Crownprince, Frederick William in 1823. He had it rebuilt as a 19th-century palace in Gothic Revival style. The original castle at Stolzenfels was built as a fortification, used to protect the toll station on the Rhine, where the ships had to stop and pay toll.

The Grand Garden of Dresden is the largest in Dresden, built in the Baroque style 1676, located in Dresden, Germany. In 1814 the garden was opened to become a public garden. The garden houses a Baroque Summer Palace, Dresden Zoo, and Dresden Botanical Garden.

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.

Heidecksburg Palace is the former residence of the princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in Thuringia Rudolstadt and lies, the cityscape dominant, some 60 meters above the old town. Today the Thuringian State Museum Heidecksburg and the Thuringian State Archives Rudolstadt are housed in the castle.

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.

Commissioned by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg- Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn and his brother Friedrich Carl von Schönborn in 1720, and completed in 1744. Interiors of the residence is considered masterworks of Baroque/Rococo architecture and art include the grand staircase, the chapel, and the Imperial Hall. Since 1981, the Residence has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zwinger is a luxurious palace in Dresden, Germany, built on the Baroque Style, it is considered as one of the most important buildings in the Baroque period. The palace is the remaining part of the Dresden fortress which still maintains its outer wall. Today the place is a museum complex.