Trausnitz Castle

Trausnitz Castle (Burg Trausnitz) towers above the old town of Landshut in Lower Bavaria and was for centuries a seat of the Wittelsbach dukes. Behind its medieval walls you'll find an elegant Renaissance courtyard with arcades, the "Fools' Staircase" painted with colorful comedy figures, and a cabinet of curiosities run by the Bavarian National Museum. It is an easy day trip from Munich and pairs perfectly with a stroll through one of Bavaria's prettiest old towns.

A short history

The oldest parts of the castle date to 1204, when Duke Ludwig I founded Landshut and built a fortress on the hill to protect it. Trausnitz became one of the key residences of the Wittelsbach family, especially in the 15th century, when the wealthy dukes of Bavaria-Landshut ruled from here.

In the 1570s, the future Duke William V had the court artist Friedrich Sustris transform the castle into a Renaissance palace. A fire on October 21, 1961, destroyed much of the princes' wing interior.

What to see

• Fools' Staircase (Narrentreppe): A spiral staircase covered with large frescoes of characters from Italian commedia dell'arte, a rare example of Renaissance court painting in Germany.
• St. George's Chapel: A late Romanesque castle chapel that survived the 1961 fire, known for its sculpted figures.
• Cabinet of Art and Curiosities: Opened in 2004 by the Bavarian National Museum, it displays the kinds of exotic natural objects, crafts and scientific instruments that Renaissance princes collected.
• Views and gardens: The castle walls and the arcaded gallery offer wide views over Landshut, and the large Hofgarten park stretches east of the castle.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, according to the Bavarian Palace Administration:

• March 28 to September: daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• October to March 27: daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Last entry 60 minutes before closing; closed January 1, Shrove Tuesday, and December 24, 25 and 31

From Monday to Saturday the castle rooms can only be seen on an hourly guided tour; on Sundays and public holidays you can walk through on your own. The cabinet of curiosities is always self-guided. Admission is €6 (reduced €5) and includes the cabinet of curiosities; visitors under 18 get in free. Tickets are sold only on site.

How to get there

Landshut is about 45 miles (70 km) northeast of Munich and close to Munich Airport. Regional trains from Munich reach Landshut Hauptbahnhof in under an hour, and the Deutschlandticket is valid on them. From the station, take a city bus to the old town and change for line 607 or 627 to the Kalcherstraße stop, then walk uphill for about 1 km. Drivers can use the Hofgarten parking lot, about 800 m from the castle.

Accessibility: The guided tour is not wheelchair accessible, since each floor is reached by about 30 steps. The cabinet of curiosities has an elevator and step-free access.

Is Trausnitz Castle worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy Renaissance art and want a quieter alternative to Munich's palaces. Plan about two hours.

Nearby

• Landshut old town: The main street, simply called "Altstadt," is lined with colorful gabled houses.
• St. Martin's Church: Its tower is often described as the tallest brick tower in the world.
• Landshut Town Residence: A Renaissance palace in the old town, also run by the Bavarian Palace Administration.