Hohenzollern Castle – History of Three Fortresses

Hohenzollern Castle crowns the Zoller Mountain south of Hechingen and serves as the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Its towers and walls look medieval, but the present neo-Gothic complex was built between 1850 and 1867.

Two earlier fortresses occupied the same summit. The first was destroyed in 1423; the second, begun in 1454, was strengthened and occupied for centuries before neglect, weather and earthquakes reduced most of it to ruins.

Today the privately owned castle is one of the best castles to visit in Germany, combining family history, museum collections and dramatic views with the atmosphere of a real-life fantasy castle.

Frequently Asked Questions

History of Hohenzollern Castle

The First Castle

The House of Hohenzollern appears in written records in the 11th century, while the first explicit reference to the castle dates to 1267. Archaeological evidence suggests that the fortress itself may have been built in the first half of the 11th century on the then-unwooded, cone-shaped summit.

In 1423, forces led by the Swabian League of Cities besieged the stronghold during a conflict involving Friedrich XII of Zollern. After about ten months, the garrison surrendered and the first castle was destroyed.

The Second Castle

Count Jost Niklas of Zollern laid the foundation stone for a larger second castle in 1454. A bastion ring strengthened it during the Thirty Years’ War, but the Hohenzollern family gradually shifted its residence into the valley. Repeated occupations, inadequate maintenance, weather and earthquakes left the fortress in ruins.

The Third and Current Castle

Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia visited the ruins in 1819 and resolved to rebuild his family’s ancestral seat. After becoming King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he began the project in 1850. Architect Friedrich August Stüler designed the neo-Gothic complex, while fortress architect Moritz von Prittwitz created the spiral approach and defensive works.

The new castle rose on the foundations of its predecessors and incorporated the surviving 15th-century Catholic St Michael’s Chapel. Friedrich Wilhelm IV died in 1861, before completion. His brother, King Wilhelm I of Prussia, formally inaugurated the castle on 3 October 1867.

The project was primarily a dynastic monument and museum rather than a normal royal residence, although the site retained a representative and limited military role. Its castle design combines a horseshoe-shaped palace with a bastion ring, chapels and the steep ramp to the Eagle Gate.

Ownership and the Castle Museum

From 1952, Louis Ferdinand Prince of Prussia furnished the castle with paintings, jewellery and objects connected with Prussian and Hohenzollern history. He also converted the former kitchen into the Treasury.

The Prussian and Swabian branches long shared ownership. On 1 January 2026, Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia became sole owner after the Swabian branch transferred its one-third share. The castle remains privately run and supports its preservation through admissions, catering and events.

The White Lady Legend

A story about a “White Lady” haunting the Hohenzollern family appears in many versions across Central Europe. The tale is part of the castle’s folklore, not established evidence about a specific 15th-century countess. It should be enjoyed as a legend rather than presented as documented history.

For another Saxon palace with a strong fairytale association, see our guide to Moritzburg Castle.

Hohenzollern Castle Today

The castle opens its museum rooms, Treasury, chapels, courtyards and viewpoints to visitors. Its collections include the Prussian royal crown, portraits, historic silver and personal objects associated with the Hohenzollern family.

The official site describes the complex as privately owned and self-financing. In addition to daily visits, it hosts seasonal events and supports the Princess Kira of Prussia Foundation, which offers holidays at the castle for children and young people from social institutions.

Interesting Hohenzollern Castle Facts

• The site has held three successive fortresses.
• The first castle probably originated in the 11th century and was destroyed in 1423.
• Construction of the second castle began in 1454.
• The present neo-Gothic castle was built from 1850 to 1867.
• Friedrich August Stüler designed the main complex; Moritz von Prittwitz designed the spiral fortified approach.
• St Michael’s Chapel survives from the 15th-century castle.
• The castle became solely owned by Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia on 1 January 2026.
• The hillside was reforested with about 92,000 beech trees after the third castle was completed.