SMALL GROUP TOURS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY
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Majestic Castles Overlook
Our German Bicycle Route
1-July-2025
Germany is a land of castles! Most are centuries-old, and each one reveals the rich history of the region. They tell us who lived in and governed the area, how long they were there, how they lived, and most likely what their priorities were. Each day, as we bike along the German Wine Street, castles high above the vineyards come into view and frame the backdrop of our journey.
On our bicycle route we visit some of these castles. Some are fully restored and serve as museums and, in some cases, are stunning venues for concerts. In other cases, the castles have not been fully restored but segments of their structures remain – including foundations, walls, and towers - allowing our imaginations to fill in the missing pieces of medieval life in the castle. As almost all of these castles were built high above the surrounding terrain, the views from the castles are spectacular!
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Why does Germany have thousands of castles? Prior to Germany becoming a country in 1871, the area was a region consisting of many small states or principalities that were part of the very large Holy Roman Empire. Most of central Europe was part of the Holy Roman Empire, an empire which began in the year 800 and endured for 1000 years until 1806.
At the helm of the Holy Roman Empire was an Emperor and below him in the hierarchy were members of the nobility and clergy, including kings, princes, dukes, counts, margraves, bishops and other nobles, each of whom controlled and governed these states or principalities as their sovereign territory with very little influence from the emperor. Each of these noblemen had a castle.
Castles served as the homes and seats of administration for these ruling noblemen. As a defensive measure, the castles were built in strategic geographic locations that provided protection from enemies, a military advantage, and good oversight of the land that they governed.
Hambacher Schloss (Hambach Castle) - The Birthplace of German Democracy
Along the German Wine Street, one of the most majestic castles we will see on our bicycle route is the regal Hambach Castle. Per the Hambach Castle website, the castle was initially built in the year 1000 and was part of Salian rule, a Germanic people who lived along the Rhine River. At 325 meters above sea level, the castle was called the “Chestnut Castle” because the surrounding area was full of chestnut trees.
View of Hambach Castle from our Bicycle Route in the Vineyards
Hambach Castle
In 1100 the castle was given to the Bishopric of the nearby town of Speyer. In 1552 a neighboring margrave (marquis) tried to extort money from the Bishop of Speyer in return for not attacking the castle. The bishop refused to acquiesce, and the castle was destroyed. Partly rebuilt by the Bishopric of Speyer, the castle subsequently held lesser administrative importance. In 1688 the castle was attacked again, this time by French soldiers in the Palatinate War of Succession.
The castle was later occupied by the French in 1797 during the French revolution and became part of a French satellite state under Napoleon. In 1816 control of this region, including the castle, was transferred to Bavaria. Just a few years later in 1823 the Bavarian state auctioned the castle and possession was won by 16 citizens from the nearby village of Neustadt. It was under this citizen ownership of the castle that the 3-day Hambach festival took place May 27-30, 1832.
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There was tension in this region under repressive Bavarian rule. Taxes were high and censorship prevalent, including a ban on an association of journalists who advocated for a free press and free speech. This was in stark contrast to what people in this region had experienced previously under the French First Republic in which the principles of liberal democracy were the foundation.
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This tension between liberalism and authoritarian rule culminated in the 3-day Hambach Festival in 1832. The festival was a guise for a political demonstration because under Bavarian rule, political demonstrations were banned.
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Thousands of people from all strata of society attended the 3-day festival. Speeches were given advocating for a unified citizenry with political and civil rights, a citizenry free from oppression, and a government chosen by its people. The colors of what would later become the colors of today’s German flag – black, red, and gold – became symbols at this festival of a united and democratic nation. The festival at the Hambach Castle marked the first large demonstration in German history advocating for a German republic. It is because of this festival that today the castle is celebrated as the birthplace of German democracy, thirty-nine years before Germany would become a country.
In 1842 the castle was again auctioned off and then later given as a gift to the crown prince of Bavaria on the occasion of his wedding. From 1952 to today, the castle has been owned by various nearby municipalities and extensively reconstructed and renovated to become a beautiful museum and event center, including a restaurant and extensive gardens. Today visitors can enjoy a tour of the museum and take in the fascinating history and breathtaking scenery.
Wachtenburg Castle - Balcony of the Palatinate
Although not as high in elevation as the Hambach Castle, it’s impossible to miss the Wachtenburg Castle overlooking the charming wine village of Wachenheim. At 232 meters above sea level, the Wachtenburg Castle is referred to as the “Balcony of the Palatinate” because of the spectacular views of the region that it offers.
Wachtenburg Castle Above Wachenheim
Wachtenburg Castle High Above the Vineyards
Originally built in 1100 by King Conrad of Hohenstaufen, it was later owned in 1274 by the first German King of the Habsburg dynasty and then in 1275 by Count Palatine Ludwig II, after which it remained in Palatine control. Partially destroyed in 1689 by the French in the Palatine War of Succession, the castle has been re-built over the centuries and now offers a small museum, large terrace, and café and pub for enjoying the view and the culinary specialties of the region.
Burg Trifels - An Imperial Castle (Reichsburg Trifels)
The magnificent red sandstone Trifels castle is visible from great distances as it regally rises above the surrounding Pfalz forest and appears to touch the sky.
Burg Trifels Rises Above the Pfalz Forest
Replica of the Royal Crown
Per the Rheinland Pfalz Burgenland cultural website, the castle's existence was first noted in a document from 1081. From 1088 to 1330 Trifels castle was as an important center of power for the noble families of Hohenstaufen (from the Duchy of Swabia) and Salian (a noble family that produced 4 German kings, each of whom went on to be an emperor in the Holy Roman Empire).
Trifels castle famously imprisoned the English King Richard the Lionheart in 1193 to early 1194. He was captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria as he returned from a crusade to the Holy Land. Considered an enemy of the Holy Roman Empire, King Richard was imprisoned in Trifels Castle at the direction of the Hohenstaufen Emperor Henry VI. He was freed only after payment of a large ransom of silver.
Now a museum, the castle contains replicas of the imperial family’s royal insignia, including a crown, sceptre, and orb. The interior has been restored and provides a magical medieval venue for concerts in the summer.
At 500 meters above sea level, we reach the castle by foot via a gentle and steady ascent through the forest from the picturesque village of Annweiler. Because of its geographical height, it was considered one of the most secure castles in the Holy Roman Empire.
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Come join us on our guided bicycle tour and experience the magic of these medieval castles and the stunning surrounding scenery !