Lichtenstein Castle

Lichtenstein Castle stands on an almost vertical cliff on the Swabian Alb in southern Germany. It was built in the 19th century on the foundation walls of a former castle, which had been one of the most well-fortified medieval castles, but had fallen into disrepair after the Family of Lichtenstein had died out. The land was bought by King Wilhelm of Württemberg in 1837. At that time there was a great interest in medieval knighthood. The writer Wilhelm Hauff had written a novel about Lichtenstein. King Wilhelm was inspired by it to build a castle in the neo-Gothic style.

The interior rooms were richly decorated with ornamental paintings by the artist Eberlein. Today, the grounds include the Gerobau, a chapel, a spacious palace garden and a Romanesque palace courtyard. The complex can be visited and is worth a visit not only because of the remarkable interior rooms, but also because of its unique, exposed location.

In 2009 the “Fairytale Castle of Württemberg” served as the location for the filming of the fairytale film “Sleeping Beauty”. The German Federal Postal Office used it as the motif for several stamp series. Three replicas of Lichtenstein Castle are known. A small castle in Lietzow on Rügen is partly a copy. A vineyard house in Osthofen near Worms shows great similarities. Near Cape Town in South Africa there is a replica which is used as a guest house.