Kriebstein castle near the town of Waldheim in the German state of Saxony

Medieval Tour of German Castles

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Germany

Places Visited

Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Ahorntal...

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Suggested Duration

14 Days

Medieval Germany isn't just a slice of history. It's alive, breathing an evocative atmosphere into cobbled villages and castles that cling to cliffs. On this unique two-week tour you will journey into its heart and soul, stay in castles and immerse yourself in the untouched charms of bygone centuries. From the royal fortresses of emperors to the fairytale icons of the Alps, discover all the glamor and allure of the medieval era, traveling in style across Germany.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Spend almost every night in an authentic castle, an accommodation that reflects the charismatic beauty of Germany's old-world realm
  • Explore the medieval towns that have been completely untouched by modernity, like romantic Heidelberg and Rothenburg
  • Immerse yourself in Franconian Switzerland, a land of half-timbered villages and green valleys
  • Discover the fabled castles of the country, like Kriebstein, the knight's castle on a cliff, and Wartburg, where Luther translated the Bible
  • Journey into the fairytale world of Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig's castle on a hill that was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty
  • Find yourself lost amongst the Baroque brilliance of Dresden and the Renaissance beauty of architecture across the region
  • Travel slowly through Germany and take in the panoramas of its backcountry, epitomized by a private cruise on the River Rhine

Detailed Description

Medieval Germany appears like fiction when seen from afar; the castle of Sleeping Beauty dominating a hilltop, a knightly realm clinging to a hillside, half-timbered houses untouched for centuries, valleys dappled with Baroque design. The panorama appears like a postcard, expertly edited to blur the boundaries of fiction. But when you explore medieval Germany, discover that the landscape is very much alive. Not merely a historical realm; it's more than a slice of the past preserved as if in a museum. A resonant atmosphere flickers through the cobbled streets, castles are still working buildings, and tradition is preserved because there has never been any other way. Explore medieval Germany and the ambiance envelops you at every turn, pulling you into a world that's architecturally unchanged, but also culturally untouched. It feels like you're in another era.

This expert luxury tour maximizes the immersion. Over two weeks, explore the most redolent of Germany's medieval villages and towns. Almost every night is spent sleeping in a castle, enabling you to breathe in the heritage at all times. Each stop is bathed in a certain historical romance, the streets doused in a blanket of intrigue and old-world fascination and every night ensures the spell is never broken. Travel across Germany, heading west to east and then finishing at Neuschwanstein, the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty and so many fictional narratives. Along the way, there's Baroque wine villages, sublime valleys, cities resurrected from the ruins, and lots of castles.

After a night in Frankfurt following your intercontinental flight, take a private cruise along the River Rhine to Heidelberg, winding slowly past the crumbled ruins and expressive vineyards of the Rhine Valley. Travel through Heilbronn and follow the River Neckar to Rothenburg, where your hotel is an ancient tollhouse from the year 1264, refurbished with contemporary comfort in mind. Discover the fortress of the German emperor in Nuremberg before spending two nights in Franconian Switzerland in an 800-year-old castle that towers above the landscape.

Move on to Wartburg Castle, perhaps Germany's most aesthetically pleasing fortress, with its Tudor-style design and expansive views. Naturally, you'll be staying in the castle itself. Kriebstein Castle offers a knightly tale on route to Dresden, the Saxon capital that's been restored to its Baroque glory. Your hotel is situated on the grounds of Pillnitz Castle, the residence of the Kings of Saxony. Then a short flight to Munich enables you to complete the luxury itinerary at Neuschwanstein Castle, the most iconic and famous of Germany's fortresses.

Starting Price

$6,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.89 stars based on 560 reviews.

Germany Vacation Review: Munich, Rothenburg, Bayreuth, Mainz,...

We took an unusual, self-guided trip from Munich to Norderney and back, tracing our family roots. It was a wonderful time! The accommodations arranged by Zicasso's travel agency were excellent. We had good communication with our agent throughout. He added personal transportation to and from the Munich airport. Overall, we found Germany to be a wonderful country and the agency to be a good company to deal with.

Reviewed By Paul B.

Germany, Switzerland Travel Review: Meersburg, Freiburg,...

From the moment we landed in Germany to the moment we left, the trip was incredibly well planned and tailored specifically to what we were interested in, but with the expert knowledge of Zicasso's travel agent and our tour operator to guide us toward our best possible experience.

DO IAfter receiving the initial itinerary proposal from him, we had a helpful phone conversation to talk about our family "must-do's." The itinerary was adjusted accordingly and was perfect. Every day had a memorable experience and everything went smoothly!

I cannot recommend this tour company any higher. If you are considering working with our travel agent and his colleague, do it. I am already trying to determine when we can return to Germany and work with them to plan our Germany vacation (part two)!

Reviewed By Kerri B.

The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Germany Trip Review:...

It was a very good trip. It was pretty well planned, with great hotels and scenery, and we loved the train trips. A suggestive comment would be to steer the old folks (like us) away from the hotel; it seemed too "young" for my crowd.

Reviewed By Nelson T.

Germany, Austria Vacation Review: Berlin, History, 8 Nights...

We had a fantastic trip to Germany and Austria. Zicasso's travel partner arranged the trip for us and everything went perfectly. I can't speak highly enough of her and her skills at arranging a perfect vacation for our family of four. She was easy to reach and quick to respond to any questions, and gave good advice on what to see and concentrate on in Germany. I enthusiastically recommend this agency to anyone interested in touring Europe.

Reviewed By Krishna T.

Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland,...

Zicasso's travel partner created our dream vacation and their attention to detail was absolutely spectacular! They went above and beyond to ensure my daughter had a memorable trip!

Reviewed By Wendy N.

France, Switzerland, Germany Travel Review: Hiking, Cooking,...

I cannot say enough good things about Zicasso's travel company and our trip. We had an absolutely fantastic itinerary, with attentive and experienced guides every step of the way. Careful attention was paid to ensure highlights lined up with our family’s goals and activity level.

Reviewed By Lauren L.

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