Where is Kyffhausen Castle located?

It stands in Kyffhäuserland, in the Kyffhäuserkreis district of Thuringia, near the border with Saxony-Anhalt.

Why is Kyffhausen Castle famous?

Its fame comes largely from the legend of Emperor Barbarossa sleeping beneath the mountain, as well as the Kyffhäuser Monument built nearby in the late 19th century.

What can visitors see at the site today?

Visitors can explore the remains of the three fortified enclosures, a castle museum and the neighbouring Kyffhäuser Monument.

Is Kyffhausen Castle a protected monument?

It is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Thuringia.

Is the site easy to walk around?

The castle occupies a steep rocky spur, so visiting involves walking with notable changes in elevation between the different sections.

Kyffhausen Castle

Kyffhäuserland

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Where: Kyffhäuserland

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Open within 20 km

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Reichsburg Kyffhausen stands in Kyffhäuserland (Kyffhäuserkreis), in Thuringia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The Reichsburg Kyffhausen is a medieval ruin perched on a rocky spur of the Kyffhäuser range in Thuringia, near the border with Saxony-Anhalt. It consists of three successive fortified enclosures, known as the Oberburg, Mittelburg and Unterburg, separated by ditches, and together they form one of the largest castle complexes in Germany at over 600 metres in length. The grounds now house a castle museum and stand next to the Kyffhäuser Monument, built at the end of the 19th century, making the site one of Germany's most visited attractions. Much of its fame rests on the legend of Barbarossa sleeping beneath the mountain, popularised in the 19th century.

Written from Kyffhausen Castle

This place also features in The Hohenstaufen castles

What to know

The site sits on a steep rocky spur, with significant differences in height between the three enclosures.
A visit combines the ruined castle, the castle museum and the Kyffhäuser Monument, all on the same grounds.
The site is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Thuringia.
No opening hours, admission fees or accessibility details are available for this listing, so check before visiting.
Sturdy walking shoes are advisable given the elevated, natural terrain.

Where this château is

Kyffhäuserland · Kyffhäuserkreis · Thüringen

Map of the area around Reichsburg Kyffhausen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Kyffhäuser 1, 99707 Kyffhäuserland

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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4.4 / 5from 14 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Thüringen

In pictures

Frequently asked

Where is Kyffhausen Castle located?: It stands in Kyffhäuserland, in the Kyffhäuserkreis district of Thuringia, near the border with Saxony-Anhalt.
Why is Kyffhausen Castle famous?: Its fame comes largely from the legend of Emperor Barbarossa sleeping beneath the mountain, as well as the Kyffhäuser Monument built nearby in the late 19th century.
What can visitors see at the site today?: Visitors can explore the remains of the three fortified enclosures, a castle museum and the neighbouring Kyffhäuser Monument.
Is Kyffhausen Castle a protected monument?: It is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Thuringia.
Is the site easy to walk around?: The castle occupies a steep rocky spur, so visiting involves walking with notable changes in elevation between the different sections.