Royal heritage, exquisite furnishings, incredible scenery, classy events and a welcoming wave from the royal family have endeared Burg Hohenzollern to neighbors and visitors alike. This year the castle is serving up a royal menu of events that make an already special place come alive with history and grandeur. Concerts, royal tours, strolls, falconry, star gazing and a noble Christmas market are well worth the time.

The Hohenzollern Castle is the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty and is situated at the edge of the Swabian hills in SouthWest Germany, just one hour by car and two hours by train from Stuttgart. With its authentic furnishings and historic belongings, including a significant picture gallery, valuable silver, china and the crown of the Prussian kings, the castle is a rich site for historians of Prussian kings and for royal aficionados in general.

This summer outings to the Castle Hohenzollern are cultural and entertaining for all ages. Starting on June 16, there are fun and games for children with the “castle adventure” that also includes a royal castle stroll. Then theater goers and castle lovers alike will enjoy the American Drama Group‘s open-air performance of Shakespeare’s rollicking comedy, The Taming of the Shrew in the courtyard on the evening of July 2.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin by Prussian King Frederick the Great, the castle is exhibiting a selection of the precious porcelain from the House of Prussia through July 28. Dishes and figurative objects from the 18th to 20th century will be presented along with a short film. On August 9 and 10, visitors are invited to perch atop royal battlements from which to admire the shooting stars. They are enchanted by the music and lights as well as by the stunning backdrop.

The fun continues on the fall weekends with a falconry show on September 21 and 22 when majestic eagles, hawks and hulking vultures are trained to fly above the castle and perform avian stunts. Falconer Wolfgang Weller oversees an extraordinary show and explains with humor the art of hunting and falconry – another sensational spectacle for the entire family. Then on October 12 and 13, a weekend festival with local food and specialties is yet another way for visitors to get a taste of the local culture and also includes a royal castle stroll.

The icing on the annual cake comes on November 29-December 1 and then again on December 6-8 with the Royal Christmas Market with its unique ambience and location in the castle courtyard, the castle garden and some of the interior rooms. A broad spectrum of exhibitors and a stylish supporting program create a festive and inviting atmosphere where visitors can experience, discover and shop.

During the castle’s opening hours, the restaurant serves its guests regional specialties. For groups, events and festivities the restaurant is available also after opening hours and in the summer season it entertains one of the most beautiful beer gardens in the region.

 
The history of the Hohenzollern castle goes back as far as the 11th century and was destroyed two times. Then it was in the 19th century when Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia decided that he would like to rebuild the fortress. Upon becoming King Frederick William IV, he gave the order to start the reconstruction in neo-Gothic style. Today it is built as a military fortress with many towers and thick walls and battlements but also serves temporary as a royal and elegant home for the princes of Prussia. www.burg-hohenzollern.com