Can you visit Veste Otzberg right now?

The site is closed for renovation work, so it is advisable to check the current status before travelling there.

Who built Veste Otzberg?

The fortress was built after 1220 by the Imperial Abbey of Fulda on a basalt cone in the Vorderer Odenwald.

Why is the keep called the 'white turnip'?

Its light plaster and squat shape, tapering slightly toward the top, earned it this popular nickname.

What remains of Veste Otzberg today?

Only the 13th-century keep survives from the original structure, alongside surrounding walls, a medieval well, and later buildings such as the commandant's house.

Otzberg Castle

Otzberg

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Where: Otzberg

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Open within 20 km

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Veste Otzberg stands in Otzberg (Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg), in Hesse, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Recorded dating: 13th century. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Veste Otzberg stands on a basalt volcanic cone rising above the plain of the Vorderer Odenwald, in Otzberg, Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hesse. Founded after 1220 by the Imperial Abbey of Fulda, it later changed hands several times, including to the Count Palatine of the Rhine and the Counts of Hanau. Its squat, white-plastered keep, nicknamed the 'white turnip' by locals, is the only structure surviving from the original construction period. From its viewing platform, the panorama reaches across the Odenwald and, on clear days, as far as Frankfurt and the Taunus hills.

What to know

The site is currently closed for renovation work, worth checking before planning a visit.
The castle sits on an isolated basalt cone in otherwise flat surroundings, meaning some uphill walking is required to reach it.
The 13th-century keep is the only building surviving from the original foundation, the remaining structures date from the 14th to 17th centuries or exist as ruins.
The site is listed as a Kulturdenkmal in Hesse.
The elevated position gives wide views over the Odenwald, and on clear days as far as Frankfurt and the Taunus.

Practical information

Opening hours

Monday (today)	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	Closed
Friday	13:00-19:00
Saturday	11:00-19:00
Sunday	11:00-19:00

Opening hours published by the château on its Google listing. We have not yet confirmed them on its official website.

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

Where this château is

Otzberg · Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg · Hessen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Burgweg 28, 64853 Otzberg

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

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Château phone number

+49 6162 96040

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The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.5 / 5from 683 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Hessen
Period of construction: 13th century

Frequently asked

Can you visit Veste Otzberg right now?: The site is closed for renovation work, so it is advisable to check the current status before travelling there.
Who built Veste Otzberg?: The fortress was built after 1220 by the Imperial Abbey of Fulda on a basalt cone in the Vorderer Odenwald.
Why is the keep called the 'white turnip'?: Its light plaster and squat shape, tapering slightly toward the top, earned it this popular nickname.
What remains of Veste Otzberg today?: Only the 13th-century keep survives from the original structure, alongside surrounding walls, a medieval well, and later buildings such as the commandant's house.