we want to stay in a castle in germany

would love to stay the night in an actual castle

An actual castle has cold stone floors, rooms heated only by fireplaces. no running water, and outhouses out over the moat. I think you mean you want to stay in a former castle that has been remodeled, with creature comforts. Unfortunately, most of these accommodations are formerly destroyed castles rebuilt on the same site as modern buildings using the same stones as were used for the castle (Stahleck hostel) or modern buildings built next to a destroyed castle (Rheinfels or Schönburg hotels), and, although near Frankfurt, they are in the opposite direction as Austria. There is a castle hotel within the authentic castle at Harburg, Bavaria, on the way to Austria, but I'm guessing it is a modern building built for the purpose.

Castle Colmberg should fit your requirement. I've stayed there a few times. It's a medieval castle (yes remodeled) but still very rustic and probably exactly what you're looking for.

http://www.burg-colmberg.de/

How are you traveling?

It looks like the town of Colmburg does not have rail service. You can get there by bus from Ansbach (40 min), but it's still a 1 km walk from the Rathaus bus stop to the castle.

Same with Harburg. The rail station is south of town. In 2007, there was no public transportation from the train station into town and no taxis. I walked it in 2007, a day trip, without luggage. It's a pleasant 1 km walk into town, then a short but steep climb up to the castle.

I hate to say this, but in either case it looks like a car might be advisable.

Burgs Harburg and Colmburg are about 50 miles apart.

We are traveling by car.

"We will fly into Frankfurt and go the direction of Austria. We are just having a hard time finding a castle along that route to stay in."

More details would be helpful. How many nights do you plan to spend in Germany prior to Austria - just the one? What time do you arrive at FRA? Do you arrive there after an international transatlantic flight? (Not being nosy - it's just that many people are jet-lagged and drowsy and in no condition to drive after flying east like that across numerous time zones - and it's often best to stay over in/near Frankfurt or to arrange for a train ride on Day 1 prior to picking up the car.) What route do you intend to drive? Are you taking the car into Austria, then returning to FRA later? If so, along what route, if you know? Maybe that castle-stay could be done on the return.

Did you look at the location of Colmberg on the map? It's between Frankfurt and Austria. It's also about a 10 minute drive from Rothenburg Odt.

I'm not sure where it may be in Germany but I seem to recall Untours offered a castle stay - don't think you could just do one night tho.

The castle hotel used by Untours is Schloss Sommersdorf. You might be able to book it individually for a night or two. Check it out on TA, or just Google it. May be what you want. It's also close enough for a day trip to RodT.

We stayed at Schlosshotel Hirschhorn. http://www.schlosshotel-hirschhorn.de/english/default.html

It is a cute little hotel. It is kinda of steep getting up to. Rain and cobble stone and steep hill was an interesting drive. But we made it!

The food in the restaurant was awesome. It was really nice being on the Neckar river.

Thank you all so much!! We haven't finalized any of our plans so we don't know our exact route just yet. But we are renting a car and there will be four adults. Thanks again!!!