<strong>Colditz Castle: </strong>Built strategically on a cliff in 11th-century Saxony, Colditz Castle had been used as a military outpost, a zoo and a mental hospital before it became a prison for political prisoners under the Nazis. Click through the gallery for more of Germany's most intriguing castles:
Colditz Castle: Built strategically on a cliff in 11th-century Saxony, Colditz Castle had been used as a military outpost, a zoo and a mental hospital before it became a prison for political prisoners under the Nazis. Click through the gallery for more of Germany's most intriguing castles:
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<strong>Heidelberg Palace: </strong>Constructed of pink-brown sandstone that turns the color of bubblegum at sunset, Heidelberg Palace is surrounded by woods and terraced for views overlooking Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley.
Heidelberg Palace: Constructed of pink-brown sandstone that turns the color of bubblegum at sunset, Heidelberg Palace is surrounded by woods and terraced for views overlooking Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley.
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<strong>Wartburg Castle:</strong> Surrounded by forests in Eisenach, Wartburg Castle was home for a time to Martin Luther. He translated the New Testament into German here.
Wartburg Castle: Surrounded by forests in Eisenach, Wartburg Castle was home for a time to Martin Luther. He translated the New Testament into German here.
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<strong>Neuschwanstein Castle: </strong>If you find that Neuschwanstein Castle has an uncanny resemblance to Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland, you'd be right. It indeed served as the inspiration.
Neuschwanstein Castle: If you find that Neuschwanstein Castle has an uncanny resemblance to Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland, you'd be right. It indeed served as the inspiration.
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<strong>Schwerin Castle: </strong>The picturesque Schwerin Castle, located in the plains of northern Germany, strategically occupies an island in a lake.
Schwerin Castle: The picturesque Schwerin Castle, located in the plains of northern Germany, strategically occupies an island in a lake.
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<strong>Frankenstein Castle:</strong> The unassuming ruins of the 13th-century Frankenstein Castle overlooking Darmstadt bask in the fame of its name. Historians doubt whether Mary Shelley, author of the horror novel, ever saw it.
Frankenstein Castle: The unassuming ruins of the 13th-century Frankenstein Castle overlooking Darmstadt bask in the fame of its name. Historians doubt whether Mary Shelley, author of the horror novel, ever saw it.
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<strong>Altena Castle: </strong>Many castles have become luxury five-star hotels, but Altena Castle, 40 miles northeast of Cologne, houses a youth hostel that opened in 1912.
Altena Castle: Many castles have become luxury five-star hotels, but Altena Castle, 40 miles northeast of Cologne, houses a youth hostel that opened in 1912.
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<strong>Meersburg Castle: </strong>Overlooking the shores of Lake Constance, Meersburg Castle claims to be the oldest still-inhabited castle in Germany.
Meersburg Castle: Overlooking the shores of Lake Constance, Meersburg Castle claims to be the oldest still-inhabited castle in Germany.
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<strong>Castle Eltz: </strong>Tall, slender and rising perpendicularly on a 700 meter-high rock outcrop with the river Elzach snaking at its feet, Eltz Castle is arguably the most eye-catching castle in Germany.
Castle Eltz: Tall, slender and rising perpendicularly on a 700 meter-high rock outcrop with the river Elzach snaking at its feet, Eltz Castle is arguably the most eye-catching castle in Germany.
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<strong>Hohenzollern Castle: </strong>Hohenzollern Castle, on top of a gentle hill 30 miles south of Stuttgart, belonged to the family of the German Kaiser. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt twice.
Hohenzollern Castle: Hohenzollern Castle, on top of a gentle hill 30 miles south of Stuttgart, belonged to the family of the German Kaiser. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt twice.
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