Not only are the Bergstrasse, Weinstrasse, and Pfalz area in general beautiful for traveling, they also provide examples of some really awesome castles.  Until recently, I had only a handful of photos from select castles in these regions.  This has now changed, and I have been adding the photos recently.

These two areas have provided several misadventures over the years, praticularly connected to weather.  When I went to visit the Weinstrasse 30 years ago it poured incessantly for three days.  I packed my tent in the rain each morning, and slogged through wet and mud as I hiked the region.  When I toured the Bergstrasse about the same time frame I went twice, once in the winter.  While making for an adventuresom hike, it also was downright cold!  Needless to say, it dampened my enthusiasm a bit.  My recent treks have been much better.

But while weather in Germany can always be unpredictable, these two regions are worth a visit any time of the year.  The castles below are but a sampling, especially in the Weinstrasse and Pfalz, which is loaded with great castles.  Many of these were built on sandstone platforms which enhanced their protection, as well as making them unique to explore.  There are two maps below showing the castles featured, and more should follow in the near future.

To the upper left, a view of the Bergstrasse looking north from the Auerbach.  To the left is the Flaggenturm just south of Bad Durkheim.  It was built in 1854 essentially as a commemorative tower (taken in 2005).  Below left is a view from the Siege und Friedens Denkmal (Victory and Peace Monnument) near Edenkoben along the Weinstrasse, taken in 1978.

Regarding the Bergstrasse, it was one of my first castle tours I ever took, and thus my photos, while generally good, were initially incomplete to providing a good study of castle construction and layout.

Two Maps Below!