Amazingly, our minivan that we shipped from Atlanta on May 13th, arrived the day after we arrived here in Germany. It took us 2 days to pick it up, license it, etc. . . but since we had it, we decided to spend our first Saturday in Germany, exploring & traveling.
Trek decided to take us to Hollenzollern Castle. Hollenzollern Castle is about 2.5 hours from Ramstein so it was totally doable for a 1 day road trip. It's out by Stuttgart (about 45 minutes from Stuttgart) & it is amazing. The Hollenzollern lineage were the last kings of Prussia/Germany before it turned into what it is today. This castle has been rebuilt 3 times (1st in the 11th century, 2nd in 1454, & finally in 1846) & it's GORGEOUS. It has over 300 rooms & the most amazing view I've ever seen in my life.
You aren't allowed to take pictures inside the castle, but we took a ton of the outside. The kids loved all the little nooks & crannies on the outer wall of the castle. There are SO many levels too. Inside we were able to see the armory, the dining room (just like Hogwart's Great Hall), the King's study (with the best view ever), another bedroom, the portrait galleries (there were several), the Princess's room, & the treasury which had the king's crown, scepter, & snuff boxes along with several other treasures from the family. Outside there was a cute little outdoor restaurant that served drinks, pretzels, & fries. Really truly, it was a really fun day for us.
It was a great FIRST adventure for the Potter family.
I've decided that on our traveling blog posts, we are going to add a section at the bottom of the post entitled "Adventure Awaits." These sections are added specifically for those who also live here & want to travel to locations we visit. They will include driving directions, prices, things to do for adults & for kids, website & history links, & anything needed to plan a trip there yourself. For family & friends who don't live here, you can skip this part of my posts, for everyone else. . . GO ON AN ADVENTURE!
ADVENTURE AWAITS:
Address:
72379 Burg Hohenzollern
Via GPS:
N 48.32570 | E 8.96390
N 48°19’32‘‘ | E 8°57‘50‘‘
approx. 2 & 1/2 hour drive from Ramstein AB or 50 minute drive from Stuttgart AB
There are 2 Esso stations along the route from Ramstein to fill up on gas if needed.
Hours:
10:00 - 17:30 (Summer)
10:00 - 16:30 (Winter)
Cost:
Outside Castle = 7 Euro per adult & 5 Euro per kid (6-17 years old)
Outside & Inside Castle = 12 Euro per adult, 10 Euro per Senior, 6 Euro per kid (6-17 years old)
28 Euro per family (2 adults & 4 kids)
You will also need to pay for the shuttle bus if you don't want to hike to the castle.
Shuttle Bus:
There is a shuttle bus that runs from the parking lot to the castle. You can purchase a 1 way ticket or a round trip ticket. You pay the bus driver as you enter the bus. You can also hike up or down the mountain to the castle for free. It is mostly stairs (not wheelchair or stroller friendly) & is quite the hike. Hiking up is HARD, down isn't so bad.
The shuttle bus runs nonstop so if you miss one, another will come in 10 minutes.
1 Way Trip = 2 Euro per adult & 1 Euro per child
Round Trip = 3,30 Euro per adult & 1,60 Euro per child
Things to Do:
- Hike up & down the mountain
- Gift Shop
- Cafe inside castle, restaurant outside castle in courtyard
- Castle grounds, wall, & courtyard (dogs allowed outside but not inside)
- Inside castle tour & royal tour (only specific dates during the year) (wheelchair accessible, but do not allow strollers)
Things to Bring:
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Euro/Debit/Credit Card
- Baby Carrier (for inside the castle)
- Snacks/food
GO HAVE FUN!
