Castle Cadolzburg (Burg Cadolzburg) towers majestically over the rooftops of the Bavarian city of Cadolzburg. Once a residence and administrative seat of the Hohenzollerns, today Castle Cadolzburg houses a museum that recounts the life of its aristocratic former owners. Visit Castle Cadolzburg to have fun with hands-on museum exhibits and relax in the pristine garden.
The main castle building and its defensive walls are the oldest parts of the landmark and date back to around 1250. For several centuries the castle was home to the Hohenzollerns, who would later become the kings of Prussia and German emperors. In 1933 it was converted into a school for the Hitler Youth. A fire at the end of World War II inflicted heavy damage to the castle and it was eventually restored from 1979 onward.
Spread throughout the rooms of the Old Palace is a permanent museum exhibition called The Cadolzburg Experience, which recounts life at the castle via multimedia exhibits and original artifacts. Browse a chronological timeline of the castle’s foundation, development and destruction. Experience the cramped conditions of a cell, learn about food storage and browse examples of 15th-century religious art. Meet representations of the most powerful members of the House of Hohenzollern and try medieval dance steps while dressed in period clothing.
Spend time passing between the various zones of the castle garden. In the upper section, a network of paths frame displays of different grains, each accompanied by free recipe leaflets. Follow a a trail that winds through a flower meadow planted with fruit trees. Look for the original washing place for horses and carts, situated adjacent to the garden’s walled section.
Castle Cadolzburg is open from Tuesday to Sunday and there’s an admission fee. The garden is open daily. Find the castle 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Fürth and 16 miles (25 kilometers) from Nuremberg. A regular train service travels between Fürth and Cadolzburg railway station, which is a 20-minute walk from the castle.
