Plassenburg Castle

Plassenburg is a massive hilltop castle above the town of Kulmbach in northern Bavaria, and one of the most impressive Renaissance fortresses in southern Germany. Once a stronghold of the Hohenzollern dynasty, the family that later ruled Prussia and the German Empire, it combines mighty bastions with an elegant arcaded courtyard. Today it houses four museums, including the German Tin Figure Museum with one of the world's largest collections of miniature figures.

A short history

The castle is first recorded in 1135. In 1340 it passed to the Hohenzollern burgraves of Nuremberg and became the seat of their Franconian territory. After a seven-month siege in 1554, the fortress surrendered and was blown up and burned. It was rebuilt from 1557 as a fortified Renaissance palace, with the residential wings around the "Beautiful Courtyard" largely complete by about 1575. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it served as a prison, and since 1929 it has been managed by the Bavarian Palace Administration.

Things to see

• The Schöner Hof (Beautiful Courtyard), framed by richly decorated arcades.
• The German Tin Figure Museum, with more than 300,000 figures displayed in detailed dioramas.
• The Hohenzollern in Franconia Museum, visited by guided tour only.
• The Frederick the Great Army Museum, covering Prussian military history.
• The Upper Main Regional Museum on local history.

From the ramparts there are wide views over Kulmbach and the surrounding valleys. Allow two to three hours for a visit.

Tickets and opening hours

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

• April to September: daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• October to December: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; January to March: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays from October to March, with a few holiday exceptions.
• Closed January 1, Shrove Tuesday, and December 24, 25, and 31.

Standard admission is €5 (reduced €4). The €7 castle ticket also covers the Tin Figure Museum and the regional museum. Visitors under 18 get in free.

How to get to Plassenburg

Kulmbach is about 25 km northwest of Bayreuth and a little over an hour by car from Nuremberg. Regional trains serve Kulmbach and are covered by the Deutschlandticket. There is no parking at the castle itself, so park in town and either take a local bus or walk up the steep Festungsberg hill.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are touring Franconia or visiting Bayreuth. The courtyard alone is worth the climb, and kids tend to love the tin figure dioramas. It makes a good day trip from Nuremberg or Bayreuth, combined with a stroll through Kulmbach's old town.

Nearby

• Kulmbach Old Town and St. Peter's Church at the foot of the hill.
• Bavarian Brewery Museum in Kulmbach, fitting for a town famous for beer.
• Bayreuth, home of the UNESCO-listed Margravial Opera House.