Lichtenstein Castle

Visiting Lichtenstein Castle in a Snow Storm

Lichtenstein Castle is a privately owned Gothic Revival castle located in southern Germany on the edge of the Swabian Alps, roughly an hour from Stuttgart. It is among one of the most charming, fairy tale-esque places you can visit in Europe. While the winter months might not be the best time to visit, I happened to be close by when touring the Christmas Markets and couldn’t resist the day trip.

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Above photos: Lichtenstein Castle

When I say winter may not be the best time to visit, what I really mean is that every season has its pros and cons. Getting caught in a massive snow storm during our time at the castle had its own magic and certainly made our visit unforgettable. Whether visiting during the warm weather months or the unpredictable winter months, the guided tour of the interiors of Lichtenstein Castle will leave a lasting impression.

This article will cover the basics of preparing for a visit to the castle and what to expect. Of course, I hope your visibility of the castle is better than mine was. Even if conditions aren’t ideal, it is hard to spoil a visit to this special place.

Above photos: Snowy conditions at Lichtenstein Castle

Getting to Lichtenstein Castle

Lichtenstein Castle is located about an hour due south of Stuttgart by car. Not even an hour actually. It is a very easy, scenic drive. From Ulm (to the east), the driving distance is about the same.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a public transportation option that leads directly to the castle. The nearest bus stops are in Unterhausen (Oberhausener Steige), Honau, and Traifelberg. From there you can hike to the castle. The hike from Honau is about 30 minutes (1.9 km) and from Traifelberg is about 40 minutes (2.3 km).

We rented a car from the Stuttgart central train station for our day trip and returned it in the evening. We didn’t have any major issues, and found using our smart phone GPS navigation app to be spot-on. If you’ve never rented a car abroad, it can be a little intimidating driving in a foreign country for the first time. But, it very quickly feels no different than driving anywhere else — except the road signs are in German.

Quick Tip: When making a rental car reservation, try to make your pick-up time as precise as possible and do not be late. I’ve heard horror stories about car rental companies not holding reservations beyond the pick-up time specified on the reservation. If your train or flight is late, be sure to call ahead and let an agent know your are en route lest they give away your vehicle.

As we got closer to our destination, the snow became quite heavy. Thankfully, the roads were clear and we didn’t have any problems with ice. Before we knew it, we were in the midst of a complete winter wonderland with every tree branch outlined in white and huge snowflakes swirling around us. We had to stop the car to take photos because it was just too incredible to not have those memories to look back on.

Above photos: En route to Lichtenstein Castle

Preparing for your visit

Prior to our visit, I sent an email to castle ticket office to confirm Opening Hours, tour times, and advance ticket purchase. A very nice gentleman responded and said that we could purchase our tour tickets once we arrived on-site. No advance reservations were required at that time.

Tours of the castle interiors are by guided tour only. Group tours are in German, but non-German speakers are provided with a pamphlet so they can follow along and still enjoy the tour. While we were there, the rest of our group was entirely English-speaking. We were very lucky and pleasantly surprised that our guide accommodated the group and offered our tour in English. Just be aware that you may or may not have an English-speaking tour guide.

Above photo: Lichtenstein Castle ticket office

The castle grounds & interior tour

We spent the first part of our visit walking around the the castle grounds to the extent that we were able, given the snowy conditions. Everything was covered in a thick blanket of powder. We were somewhat able to appreciate the dramatic setting with the castle perched up on an 800-meter-high cliff. It was a white-out below, but you could still sense the altitude.

Above photos: Entrance to Lichtenstein Castle

Above photos: Lichtenstein Castle grounds

On a clear day, it is possible to experience panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the Echaz River valley. However, we were barely able to make out the castle when the snow was coming down at its hardest. Part of me was a little disappointed to miss out on those sweeping views. But, hey, I had the most epic Christmas snow. It was pure magic.

Above photos: Lichtenstein Castle in a snow storm

The guided tour of the castle interiors was around 30 minutes. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted inside the castle. However, for a sneak peak, there is a photo gallery of beautiful images posted on the Lichtenstein Castle website.

The tour includes the first and second floors of the castle. The rooms on the first floor include an armory and chapel. The rooms on the second floor include the family’s living spaces and the knight’s hall. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the history of the castle and told us some great stories to help bring the rooms and various features to life.

Above photos: Lichtenstein Castle drawbridge entry

Following our tour, we continued to explore the castle grounds. The snow let up (just a little) so we took time to appreciate the details in the adjacent structures and gardens. The landscape was beyond poetic.

Above photos: Lichtenstein Castle gardens

Next stop: Hohenzollern Castle

Rather than immediately turn around and head back to Stuttgart, we planned to visit a second castle on the same day. Hohenzollern Castle is located just 40 minutes away to the southwest of Lichtenstein Castle. It eventually made for a longer return drive back to Stuttgart — about 1 hour 40 minutes — but it was well worth it. Link coming soon!

Above photo: Trudging through the snow on the way back to the car park

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