Hohenzollern Castle
Hechingen, Germany
The ancestral seat of the Prussian kings crowns a lone cone in front of the Swabian Alb. Leave the car at the lower car park and take the shuttle bus or walk up.
Hohenzollern Castle sits at 855 m on the Zollernberg, about 234 m above Hechingen, and is the ancestral seat of the House of Hohenzollern. The first castle was built around 1040 and destroyed in 1423 after a long siege; the second castle, begun in 1454, fell into decay after the last Austrian owner left in 1798. The present Gothic Revival complex was built from 1850 to plans by Friedrich August Stüler, commissioned by Frederick William IV of Prussia, and completed in 1867. It is privately owned by the family and receives more than 300,000 visitors a year.
A road through the forest leads to the car park on the hill; from there it is a walk of about 20 to 25 minutes uphill, or you can take a shuttle bus, which according to the castle's website is included in the admission price (as of October 2026). Entry is through the Eagle Gate with its drawbridge. For motorhomes, promobil lists a pitch at the Zollernalbcamping in Hechingen.
- Nearest town
- Hechingen, Germany
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 48.3233, 8.9676
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Wohnmobilstellplatz Freibad BalingenMotorhome stopover10 km from Hohenzollern Castle · 8 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Sonnencamping AlbstadtCampsite12 km from Hohenzollern Castle · 50 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Sonnencamping Albstadt untere TerrassenebeneMotorhome stopover12 km from Hohenzollern Castle · 16 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Wohnmobilstellplatz MössingenMotorhome stopover13 km from Hohenzollern Castle · 10 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Azur CampingCampsite17 km from Hohenzollern CastleTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Wohnmobilstellplatz Stausee OberdigisheimMotorhome stopover18 km from Hohenzollern Castle · 11 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Hohenzollern Castle?
Hohenzollern Castle is in Hechingen, Germany, at GPS 48.3233, 8.9676. It is about 17 km from Erpfingen.
Can you camp near Hohenzollern Castle?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Wohnmobilstellplatz am Parkplatz P1, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 25 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Hohenzollern Castle?
Hohenzollern Castle is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Swabian Alb: castles, springs and the Danube.
What is there to see near Hohenzollern Castle?
Places worth a stop nearby: Lichtenstein Castle (23 km), Uracher Wasserfall (35 km), Triberg Waterfalls (58 km) and Giant cuckoo clock (59 km).
When is the best time to visit Hohenzollern Castle?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)