Nestled along Germany’s picturesque Romantic Road, Harburg Castle emerges like a scene from a fairytale, overlooking a medieval village. With its towering spires, robust fortifications, and an aura of romantic charm, it captivates with storybook images. We were excited to see this magical fortress, perched on a hillside, offering a glimpse into a bygone era. The castle’s historical grandeur and timeless beauty was enchanting, reminiscent of tales where knights and legends were born.
The journey to Harburg Castle
We were staying in the village of Harburg, beneath this hilltop castle. We arrived in Harburg, rather unsuspecting of its allure and enchantment. I don’t know that I had even seen a photo of the castle or village beforehand. It simply made great logistical sense for a stopover, on our road-trip down the Romantic Road. It was only in the accommodation’s description of being below a castle, that I had any awareness of it at all. This castle with village was one of the best surprises on our trip! As someone who has loved castles since childhood, I was in awe.
Because we arrived in Harburg late in the day, I could only admire the castle from below that evening. And it stood grand. I was so excited to go up to it the next morning, that I missed (the literal) signs everywhere about a Fairytale Trail. Perhaps, I was simply enchanted. The photos below are just two examples were it actually says “Maerchenweg.” I was snapping all these photos, completely oblivious to a trail!
As we parked at the castle I wondered if we could have combined our castle visit with a hike. Of course you can, Sara! This is Germany, after all! I hope to return and mindfully appreciate the Fairytale Trail, visit the Harburg Fairytale Forest, and complete the Bock Circular Path starting from the lower Harburg Castle Parking lot, with lunch at the Princely Waldschaenke Eisbrunn. We will make a full day out of it, as long as it happens in summer when the trails are open.
If you are visiting the castle, you can park inexpensively pretty close to the entrance. There was a machine on-site where you pay for parking. This works well if you are short on time, but still want to experience Harburg Castle.
Immersing ourselves in a fairytale
Okay, so while I admit we didn’t understand the significance of all the fairytale references or exhibits, that doesn’t mean we didn’t interact with them on our own terms! Sophia had lots of fun running to each display, guessing which story it was from, and posing for pictures. If I had to guess, my older girls were probably doing something similar, posting their selfies on social media. The photos below were taken while walking from the castle parking lot to Harburg Castle’s entrance.
Riding into the castle, on our own 2 legs
We were excited to enter Harburg Castle. It’s actually pretty old. I guess that is what makes it a “medieval” castle. Anyways, records of the castle date back to the 12th century. First there was Kuno of Harburg who had connections to the a Benedictine monastery around 1100. Fast forward to 1150 and the 13 year old son of King Conrad III, Henry, writes letters from here to his aunt in Constantinople. King Conrad IV lived here in 1239. In 1299, the castle got pledged to the Counts of Oettingen, who were pretty important back then. They held onto it for centuries, through sieges, battles, other serious medieval stuff. Having survived all this time, the castle looks medieval with some 18th century touches. Big walls, towers, its own chapel….it even has a dungeon! Since 2000, the castle is under the care of a non-profit cultural foundation.
Respite in the castle's chapel
So as I previously mentioned, the castle has its own chapel. The Castle Church of St. Michael. It’s cute. It’s a great place to cool off, if its hot outside. After the other churches we visited on this trip, this one doesn’t necessarily stand out. However, considering this was the residents own personal chapel, I suppose that makes is seem more elaborate.
The view from the top
The castle offers visitors access to a viewpoint that looks down on the village of Harburg, and beyond.
Peaking in on bonus exhibitions
As we left the castle, near the bathrooms, there were some exhibit rooms. My son, who at the time enjoyed creating models, found the collection to be pretty interesting. I tried to get a photo, but alas, it looks like it isn’t the best. But, I thought I would post it anyways so you would have an idea what is in those rooms. I recall they weren’t that well labeled, and we weren’t sure what to expect until we entered each one.
Planning a visit
Official Website: https://burg-harburg.de/
Opening Hours:
Season 2024 runs March 9 – November 3; open daily 10:00am-5:00pm. Castle tours run on the hour. Be sure to check the castle’s webpage to confirm these dates and times before your visit.
Entrance Fees:
Castle Court Only: 3.50 EUR adults | 2.50 EUR kids (3-16), students, disabled visitors
Castle Tour: 5.00 EUR adults | 2.50 EUR kids (3-16), students, disabled visitors
I highly recommend taking the 60-minute castle tour that occurs each hour, or you won’t get to see very much.
Special Events:
Check here to see if the castle will be holding any special events during your visit.
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