Hello. This is my first post in this community and I want to start by expressing my gratitude to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome. A special thanks to 
HohenZollern Castle is an ancient castle located in the Baden-Württemberg region, about 50 kilometers south of Stuttgart. According to the information on the entrance sign, this place belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty for a long time, a dynasty that ruled in Prussia and Baden-Württemberg until World War I.
The castle is situated at an elevation of 680 meters. According to the information sign, the first mention of the Medieval Castle dates back to 1267. But it is believed to have been built in the 11th century. In 1423, after a prolonged siege, the castle was captured and completely destroyed. Thirty years later a second castle was built, providing refuge to the Schwab branch of the Habsburg dynasty during a 13 year war. By the late 18th century, the castle had lost its strategic significance and gradually began to deteriorate.
Among the mostly ruined buildings only St. Michael's Chapel stands today. The third section of the castle that survives to this day was built between 1850 and 1867 by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. Interestingly none of the Habsburg dynasty members used it as their residence during this time, until it became a home for the last Prussian prince, Wilhelm in 1945. He and his wife are buried here.
Inside the castle you can find interesting items like the crown of King Wilhelm II and personal belongings of Frederick the Great. Unfortunately photography is not allowed in the room where these treasures are kept, so I can't show them to you.
This is the interior of the castle. Interestingly while the Schwab branch of the Habsburg dynasty remained Catholic, the Prat branch adopted Protestantism after the Reformation. Hence the castle has two churches: St. Michael's Catholic Chapel and the Messiah Protestant Chapel. You should see how elegantly they are adorned with frescoes and stained glass. Both chapels are still used for worship and wedding ceremonies.
Built in the Gothic style, this castle is adorned with large stained glass windows, golden embellishments, crystal chandeliers and tapestries. You can spend hours here examining them. HohenZollern Castle is considered the second most visited castle in Germany.
Here you see photographs of the family membrs who currently own and manage the castle. This is Georg Friedrich.
There are more than 130 rooms in the castle btw. And here is St. Michael's Chapel, which has survived since the second castle's construction in the 15th century. The chapel's windows and stained glass date back to the 13th century.
HohenZollern isn't a traditional museum. It has been owned by a single family for over a thousand years. There are continuous events held here. Currently they are setting up a stage in the inner courtyard because there will be a night concert by a symphony orchestra here for the next three days. Weddings, photoshoots and religious ceremonies are also held here. Nonetheless the castle is a truly living place. It's not supported by the government and sustains itself through ticket sales and rental income. Btw for those who are curious, we paid 44 euros for our tickets. We made an online reservation, which was valid for two adults; children were free. If you buy tickets on-site it might be slightly more expensive, so I recommend purchasing them online.
There's a mechanism here that shows how the gates and drawbridge work. The gates are really solid.
The castle is stunning and I highly recommend a visit to everyone.
You can reach the castle from the parking area in about 10 minutes with a shuttle like this because it's quite far to walk and the road is very steep.
Especially here, the views are truly breathtaking. Southern Germany is beautiful, with the Black Forest nearby. We're actually passing through it on the way back, so take a look at these fields. There's a sign indicating that you're allowed to pick flowers for yourself. It's an honor system and you pay on your own; no one checks. It's a system based on trust.
That's all I have to share about HohenZollern for today. I hope you enjoy reading my post. I'm really excited about this.
Zara