Hornberg Castle

Neckarzimmern, Germany, Germany

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Hornberg Castle (Burg Hornberg) is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved castle ruin on the Neckar River, perched on a steep outcrop high above the romantic Neckar Valley and the village of Neckarzimmern in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Built in the 11th century and first mentioned in writing in 1184, the castle is famous for being the stronghold of Götz von Berlichingen, the most famous imperial knight of the late Middle Ages known as "Götz of the Iron Hand," who bought it in 1517, lived there for 45 years until his death in 1562, and made it his primary residence.

The castle was later purchased by Reinhard von Gemmingen in 1612 and has remained in the possession of the Gemmingen-Hornberg family for 12 generations since then. The impressive medieval complex features almost completely preserved stonework including a keep, tower palaces, shield wall, embrasures from different eras, seven gates, three residential buildings, a stair tower, and a fully preserved chapel that visitors can explore.