We will be in the Munich, Germany area for two weeks and have reserved some Air B&B's for the most part, however, since touring the Neuschwanstein Castle is on our itinerary I thought it would be neat to actually stay in a Castle. Has anyone done this, if so was it a good experience? Are there any near by that area? I've tried to do some research but I find it a little overwhelming and I'm unsure of the distances between areas.
Thank you
I'm not fully informed on the AirBnB situation everywhere - I only know that in Munich itself such rentals to tourists have been outlawed because of the shortage of housing there. This fact doesn't always prevent owners from renting under the table... It might be wise to look into whether your particular rental is impacted by local ordinances. You don't need the surprise of your places being out of operation when you arrive.
Can you spare a few days out of those two weeks? If you want castles, you should probably travel to the "Romantic Rhine" region for your castle stay.
3 castle-hotels of note in the most scenic part of the Rhine, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley:
Burg Reichenstein
Auf Schönburg
Burg Liebenstein
There are also a couple of "budget" castle stays nearby in hostels (not in big dorms... private rooms are on hand.)
Bacharach
Diez (nearby on the Lahn River)
The castles in this area are of the 800 - 1,000-year-old vintage (think medieval.) You can take tours of Marksburg in Braubach and Rheinfels in St. Goar. A tour is definitely worthwhile if you want a better glimpse at the past (the castle hotels have been cut up and equipped with modern comforts, naturally.) Most visitors are eager to take a day cruise through the scenic part as well - a good way to view all the castles, vineyards and old-world towns on the Rhine. The cruise typically takes 1.5 - 2.5 hours.
Neuschwanstein is not a castle, actually - it's a palace with a faux castle exterior, built near the dawn of the 20th century.
Munich has regulation on misappropriation of residential buildings and araprtments, e.g. by professional home sharing.
https://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Sozialreferat/Wohnungsamt/Zweckentfremdung/Downloads--Formulare.html
Berlin had this first, Hamburg community also decided two weeks ago to increase regulation.
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Staying in a castle sounds somehow romantic, may be can it be in some cases, but it can also be disappointing compared to the own imagination someone had prior to that. Depending on positioning of the castle it can be very loudly as some kind of hostel or also very cold in winter and at stormy days due to little isolation. The fully modernized 4-5 star versions are very different in experience but is it still an original castle? After trying 5 different ones and only 1 positive I can say for me that it is not my favorite style of accomodation.
Burg Reichenstein, Auf Schönburg, and Burg Liebenstein are not castles, actually - they're hotels "with faux castle exteriors, built near the dawn of the 20th century". And the Reichsburg (in Cochem) is a wealthy Berlin merchant's vacation home, with a faux castle exterior, built near the dawn of the 20th century.
And I have to agree with MarkK, a real castle room would have stone floors and walls, no air conditioning, no heat except a fireplace, no running water, lit only by candle or torches, and the bathroom would be an outhouse hanging out over the moat. Mankind has struggled for hundred of years to get beyond this, and you want to go back?
Why are you guys chatting about sleeping like they did 900 years ago? I don't think the OP is looking for a cold damp spot with some straw - and she won't find one if she is!
Burg Reichenstein, Auf Schönburg, and Burg Liebenstein are not castles...
That's quite the minority view... The 3 suggested castles (or non-castles as Lee calls them) that offer hotel accommodations on the Rhine have indeed been altered over the centuries, as you might guess. It is only the vary rare case that a castle survives intact after nearly a millennium without substantial damage or destruction (Marksburg is one of those few.)
But a destroyed or heavily altered former castle is usually still called a castle. Even when it acquires additions and becomes a hotel with modern conveniences. These castle-hotels and hostels are VERY popular and sometimes tricky to book. What matters to consumers is not how authentically medieval (dark, damp, maybe some black plague still hanging around!) your room is, but whether it's a fun experience to stay there. Anyone interested in booking can look through the reviews.
If Reichenstein, Schönburg and Liebenstein, all built in the 12th-13th century cannot be called "castles," then what are they?
I say go with the German definition of "castle" - it's their history and their country. As a general rule, any building with "burg" as part of its name is what they call a castle. That often applies to formerly-intact castles (ruins) as well. The ruins have historical castle-roots going back 800+ years and thus often carry the "burg" label as well. If it's a PALACE, on the other hand, it's not a Burg, but a "Schloß." You can use the Rhine map below to identify the castles and the palaces (or the ruins - "Ruine.")
https://www.loreleyinfo.de/rhein/burgen-und-schloesser.php
While scholars occasionally have trouble deciding what to call a given building because of its complicated history, there is generally a consensus among Germans for most such buildings. If the Germans adopted Lee's definition, there'd be almost no Rhine Castles at all to visit, or to float past on a cruise. Yet there they are.
As for Neuschwanstein, it is only as old as Chicago's first skyscrapers (N'stein construction ended 1890's - pre WW I era.) It was built as a personal residence for the Bavarian monarch Ludwig II - not as a defensive structure - and never saw a cannonball - in fact, armored tanks came on the scene only a few years later!) The Germans call it "Schloß Neuschwanstein" because that's what it is - a residential palace.
I echo some previous comments that staying in a castle is not always what one might think. Of course, there are four and five star castles that have been totally revamped, but more affordable castles are often somewhat disappointing. Because they are made of thick stone walls, they can be very cold and sometimes dark. They’re often located away from town or other sites one might want to see. So, in summary, be certain to read all reviews before booking.
There is a very good castle to sleep in, and to visit without sleeping just over the border from Germany in the Netherlands (the nearby small town does good pancakes too). To save me writing I'm copying their text, with which I completely agree.
Huis Bergh Castle dates back to the 13th century and is one of the biggest castles in the Netherlands. The castle is the ideal location for an unusual party or a pleasant business gathering. Once a mighty fortress in turbulent times, the castle is now an atmospheric wedding venue for the most special day of your life. The moat surrounding the castle served as a powerful defence. De Plantage (an 18th-century woodland park) is in the castle’s immediate vicinity.
Luxury accommodation at a castle tower
Two authentic towers on the outer bailey have been transformed into luxury suites.
The suites are located in the round tower and the ‘flat’ tower. Both suites are spread over two floors. Experience the medieval feel of a tower with its massive walls, niches and spiral staircases. The Middle Ages and the 21st century go hand in hand here: the suites are kitted out with state of the art bathrooms, WiFi internet access and flat screen TV.
The bedroom and bathroom are on the first floor. The round shape, wooden floor, small niches and leaded windows of the tower create a special atmosphere. The second floor invites comfy lounging on sofa and in arm chairs. This floor also comprises a kitchenette and a dining area. Each tower has its own sun patio with a view of the castle and the 18th century woodland gardens.
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So, very ancient place, made delightfully modern with plenty of modern touches, never a palace, yet definitely a castle, with all the appearance of a Dutch Castle.
Yet restored, due to fire:
Medieval Huis Bergh castle is surrounded by a moat and half of it is enclosed by an embankment. Its building history goes back as far as the 13th century.
Little is known about the earliest history of Huis Bergh Castle. It is believed that around 1100 AD a wooden tower was raised on a little island in a swamp. Around 1200 AD this wooden tower, or donjon, came to be replaced by a round tower. The remains of this tuff tower can still be seen in the wall left to the present main entrance door to the great hall. In subsequent years the main castle building was enlarged upon.
At the onset of the Eighty Years’ War Huis Bergh Castle was seriously damaged.
In 1735 the main castle building was completely destroyed by fire.
In 1939 the castle was once again struck by fire. Van Heek, who had acquired the castle in 1912, immediately took on restoring the castle.
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So original or pastiche? I vote original.
Even if not original it is most impressive, very beautiful and very romantic. I have visited and love the place, if it isn't obvious, but I haven't stayed the night. The last time I visited I had just fallen down a stone staircase at the nearby rural Moevenpick so would have been in no shape to climb the towers even if I had had the money needed.
