24 Best Castles in Germany to Visit

Germany, a land of enchanting fairy tales, captivating history, and staggering beauty, has an impressive collection of over 25,000 castles and palaces. Whether it’s nestled on a hilltop, wrapped by a mysterious forest, or overlooking a serene lake, each one has a unique story to tell.

These architectural marvels span the spectrum from dreamy ruins to opulent fortresses, offering a fascinating glimpse into the country’s rich past.

On top of being architectural and historical wonders, several of these castles offer unique experiences like medieval-themed dinners or overnight stays in luxurious suites. Imagine dining like a king in a grand hall or waking up to the view of the sun rising over an ancient fortress – it’s truly an experience straight out of a history book!

So pack your bags and step into a world of knights and princesses, epic battles, and royal intrigue as you explore some of Germany’s best castles. Each visit promises a tour and a journey through time, painting a vivid picture of Germany’s past while creating unforgettable memories for your present.

Famous German Castles to Visit

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the foremost well-known and charming of all royal residences and castles in Europe.

It is a captivating castle with a medieval-fashion fort in keeping with a fairytale imaginative and prescient monarchy built in Bavaria, Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle was the principal idea for Disneyland and Sleeping Beauty’s majestic castle.

King Ludwig II, also referred to as the “Mad King Ludwig,” ordered the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle, originally called “New Hohenschwangau Castle,” a sophisticated and much better replica of his former childhood home, Hohenschwangau Castle, to withdraw from the public life. The king never saw the final look of the building due to his sudden death.

Today, the impressive castle is opened to the general public, quickly becoming one of Germany’s most visited sights. To reach the Neuschwanstein castle, tourists must cross and travel to the village of Hohenschwangau, where the castle’s tourist ticket booth is located.

2. Heidelberg Palace (Schloss Heidelberg)

Heidelberg Palace is an exceptional place to visit for history buffs and travelers seeking out a place that looks straight out from a fairytale book with romantic surroundings, and it’s far absolutely one of the grandest and oldest palace structures of the German Renaissance, rich with a great history.

The palace is noteworthy for its historical significance and spectacular romantic appeal and appearance, with its interior loaded with lavish décor and well-preserved sculptures.

Heidelberg Palace has a unique location where its majestic ruins and silhouette linger over the lovely town of Heidelberg in Germany. It has captured romanticism and attracted millions of visitors since the early nineteenth century.

It has an Ottheinrich Building, one of the outstanding palace structures; the Barrel Building, where nobles hold lively parties; and the Friedrich Building, which houses figures and statues.

The romantic palace garden, where its Artillery provides breathtaking views of the palace and town, is only a few highlights visitors will enjoy and appreciate. These are some other top things to do in Heidelberg.

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3. Hohenzollern Castle

Address: 72379 Burg Hohenzollern, Germany

Hohenzollern Castle is a breathtaking hilltop fort within the periphery of the Swabian Alb near the well-known Black Forest and one of the most remarkable castles in Germany.

The vicinity of the castle offers a picturesque view as it is within the most beautiful mountain in Swabia. It is formerly a house destroyed in 1423 and turned left out till the nineteenth century.

Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia decided to restore and reconstruct the Hohenzollern house in 1819. By 1850, the structure had evolved into one of Germany’s most ornate castles.

The Hohenzollern Castle is a family dynasty’s ancestral seat rather than a conventional museum. It is a historical and vibrant residence that welcomes visitors with an elegant luxury interior and architectural features that create a unique atmosphere.

The magnificent view of the Alb from Hohenzollern Castle, its picturesque and majestic beauty attracts thousands of eager tourists from all over the world throughout the year.

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4. Lichtenstein Castle

Address: Schloss Lichtenstein 1, 72805 Lichtenstein, Germany

Lichtenstein Castle is a striking 12th-century-style romantic castle built on the edge of a cliff overlooking the charming village of Honau and one of the majestic castles to visit in the southwest state of Baden Wurttemberg in Germany.

Beforehand, the Lichtenstein Castle is a hunting lodge built out of the ruin of a former castle. Count Wilhelm of Württemberg based the manor in a pseudo-medieval style on the novel Wilhelm Hauff wrote, building a fictional castle in reality.

The unique location of the castle perched on an exposed 800-meter-high cliff just on the edge of the Swabian Alps, with the outer wall built right on the cliff’s edge, makes Lichtenstein Castle uncommon, offering a magnificent scenic view of the surrounding landscapes.

The sceneries from the tower are filled with green and lush sights during summer and orange and yellow surrounding landscape in autumn. The small stream of the Neckar River and the majestic valley of the Echaz River are some of the backdrops that can be seen from the castle.

5. Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz)

Address: 56294 Wierschem, Germany

Eltz Castle is a magnificent Medieval castle built for over 850 years in the center of the lush natural scenery of the Eltz forest and one of the most stunning castles in Wierschem, Germany. The Eltz Castle stands about 70 meters high, a manifestation of a knight’s castle, and is painted in bright red timber, making it exceptional.

It is a great place to experience the Middle Ages, fairytale setting, medieval culture, and nature in all forms, for it is one of the only three medieval castles still whole and preserved on the left bank of the Rhine River.

Eltz Castle is one of the castles in Germany that looks like it comes out straight from fairytale stories. The castle has various highlights that visitors can see and look up close, such as Eltz Castle Armoury, Rübenach Upper and Lower Hall, Knight’s Hall, and more. For over 850 years, the castle is still owned by the same family for over 33 generations.

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6. Wernigerode Castle

Address: Am Schloß 1, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany

Wernigerode Castle is a former medieval hilltop fortress turned into a historical castle and regal castle that was first built over Wernigerode in the 12th century as a fortress, a place stronghold, and a secured site for German emperors throughout their hunting trips to the Harz.

Wernigerode Castle has experienced various structural changes to a late Gothic period style. The castle represents North German historicism from its grand architectural structures and abundance of historical significance.

Wernigerode Castle has three gardens and park areas called Lustgarten, Tiergarten, and Terrassengärten, which have been acknowledged since 1999 as a precious national cultural monument.

Wernigerode Castle was opened to the public in the 1930s. The stronghold offers a breathtaking view of landscapes from the castles, 50 opulent rooms for visitors to view, and a collection of arts as it became the first German center and the history of art from the paintings, sculptures, and other means of art from the 19th century it housed.

7. Cochem Castle

Address: Schlossstraße 36, 56812 Cochem, Germany

Cochem Castle, known as Reichsburg Castle, is an imperial and neo-gothic style castle decorated with luxurious interiors and towering about 330 ft above the river Moselle located on an outstanding hill of the historic town of Cochem in Germany.

The Cochem Castle is one of Germany’s most popular castles and well-known tourist attractions. The over 1,000-year-old regal castle location gives a beautiful view of the Moselle River, the village, and the lush green landscapes. The castle originally had a Romanesque style but was destroyed in 1868, and the castle ruins were rebuilt into a neo-Gothic castle.

Fragments of the Romanesque style can still be found on the castle, but most of it is in a neo-Gothic castle; nevertheless, the beauty of the Cochem Castle remains.

Cochem Castle is often overlooked by travelers who choose to admire the castle from afar, but the journey to reach the castle, adventure within the palaces, and trips from the castles make the visit worth it and one of a kind.

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8. Imperial Castle of Nuremberg

Address: Burg 17, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is one of Germany’s most influential and majestic imperial palaces. It is located in the delightful town of Nuremberg. This town is rich in ancient and modern architecture, where all emperors of the Holy Roman Empire have stayed and have been served in the fascinating castle.

Today, the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is now open to the public. Visitors can see the Imperial Hall and various historic rooms and adventure into the heart of the castle hill, where the fascinating deep well, the castle’s most important water source in times of siege, is located.

The Sinwell Tower is one of the great features of the castle that offers a lovely panoramic view of Nuremberg’s old town’s beauty. Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is where visitors looking for a place that feels like walking back in the past and experiencing what it is like to be royalty is offered in the castle.

Check out these other top things to do in Nuremberg.

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9. Burghausen Castle

Address: Burg 48, 84489 Burghausen, Germany

Burghausen Castle is a majestic castle and the most extended castle complex in the world located in Burghausen, Germany. It’s a magnificent castle and museum dating back to the 8th to 9th century that has gone through multiple restorations and now has five-meter thick walls, fortified towers, and drawbridges.

Burghausen Castle has a regal hall, Castle Chapel of St Maria, known as Hedwig Chapel, knight’s Hall, and more that add to the castle’s beauty. The interior of Burghausen Castle is an incredible sight to behold, aside from its majestic outside appearance.

As the building is a museum, it houses state collections of luxurious furniture, silverware, and weaponry. It has various art collections boasting over 300 exhibits for every visitor.

The castle has a viewing platform on its roof, which provides a spectacular panoramic view of the entire castle grounds surrounding lush green sceneries and the stunning surrounding landscape of Burghausen town.

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10. Schwerin Castle

Address: Lennéstraße 1, 19053 Schwerin, Germany

Schwerin Castle is a majestic 700-year-old castle, one of the most regal castles in Germany, dated back to 942. The official founding date of Schwerin was in 1160, when the famous medieval lord and Duke of Bavaria and Saxony Heinrich der Löwe commanded his army to conquer the area.

The Castle of Schwerin was built and was restored in the 19th century, where the older parts of the castle dating from the Renaissance are turned into a new building. The recent addition of the castle was added, such as its famous big tower, golden term, and spectacular front portal.

Older parts of the castle remain, but new styles are added, creating a Neo renaissance and Historism style that adds to the uniqueness of the place.

Schwerin Castle is often referred to as the “Neuschwanstein of Northern Germany” because both share the same custom of Historism, built to imitate ancient and medieval castles.

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11. Hohenschwangau Castle

Address: Alpseestraße 30, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

Hohenschwangau Castle is a majestic royal castle and well-known tourist spot in Schwangau, Germany, dating to the 12th century. The manor has gone through various rebuilding due to the damage it gets from the different wars.

It became the summer and hunting residence of King Maximilian II, father of the famous King Ludwig II, and his family after the king acquired the ruin in 1832 with a regal neo-gothic style of architecture. Its external appearance was inspired by the spectacular medieval castle, presenting a classic look on the outside.

The Hohenschwangau Castle is where King Ludwig II spent most of his childhood, and it is the castle based on Neuschwanstein Castle.

It has the luxury of an outstanding interior and items inside the castle. Its largest room is the banquet hall, also called the “hall of the heroes,” spacious and elegant bed chambers used by the royal family, and other sophisticated rooms to see inside the manor.

12. Rheinstein Castle

Address: Burg Rheinstein, 55413 Trechtingshausen, Germany

Rheinstein Castle is a sophisticated Romanticism, and the Medieval flair-filled castle in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, dates back to the 13th century. It was used as a toll castle and fell apart in the 17th century, turning it into a ruin.

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia acquired the ruin in 1823. The prince had it rebuilt to have a 19th-century Romanticism style of architecture and interior designs, turning Rheinstein Castle into one of the iconic and romantic castles in the Rhine.

The Rheinstein Castle has a great feature that visitors can see and discover up close. Some of these unique and pleasing features have been the wall and ceiling with an impressive fresco with artistic illusionary paintings, antique furniture, knights’ armor and weaponry, a neo-Gothic castle chapel, and more.

Another highlight of the castle was its great illustration of medieval construction and defense structures, such as its working drawbridge and portcullis. The courtyard is another highlight of Rheinstein Castle, where the Burgundy grapevine has grown and produced grapes for over 500 years.

13. Wartburg Castle

Address: Auf d. Wartburg 1, 99817 Eisenach, Germany

Wartburg Castle is an elegant castle that blends splendidly into its lavish forest surroundings and has a height of about 400 meters above the splendid town of Eisenach in Thuringia, Germany, making it more majestic from afar and even up close. The castle is a monument and cultural site of international standing and the cultural history of Germany and Europe.

Wartburg Castle is significant for witnessing historical events, such as being a refuge for the exiled Martin Luther. While staying in the castle, he translated the New Testament into German. It also has many art and memorabilia collections that are preserved excellently.

The castle has been through several reconstructions, but the main castle’s great hall is one of the surviving parts of the castle’s main building designed based on Romanesque architecture and is a sight to behold. It is the main reason all the fine arts were honored in Wartburg Castle and became the heart of artistic inspiration.

14. Schloss Drachenburg

Address: Drachenfelsstraße 118, 53639 Königswinter, Germany

Schloss Drachenburg is one of the most majestic and prominent castles in Germany. It is located near Germany’s frequently visited mountain of König­swinter. The castle is also acknowledged to be one of the Rhine Ro­man­ti­cism castles.

Baron Stephan von Sarter built the castle in 1822, but it was severely destroyed due to World War II. Schloss Drachenburg has gone through several restorations and rebuilding.

The complex now has an elegant facade combination of a castle, palace, and villa structure with a significant design element from the Middle Ages and Renaissance architectures.

Most of the luxuries and interior beauty within the castle were various classic late 19th-century furniture, picturesque history paintings hanging on the walls, spacious halls, sophisticated stairwells, and charming symbols in the castle’s dining room.

Schloss Drachenburg is surrounded by the oldest nature reserve in Germany, giving a vast scenic landscape view to witness, providing a pleasing cultural and nature adventure experience.

15. Marksburg

Address: 56338 Braubach, Germany

Marksburg is a refined castle rich in the history of the medieval stronghold and has the impression of a majestic Middle Age castle. It was initially named Burg Braubach but later on called Marksburg. The manor is settled high above the right bank of the Rhine River with a cone-shaped hill overlooking the wonderful town of Braubach in Germany.

The castles have great sceneries and highlights that make Marksburg a unique place and a place that brought visitors back in time. It has various giant gates like the Notches Gate, Drawbridge Gate, and the Fox Gate, leading to different parts of the castle.

A sight to behold in the manor is the heart of the castle, where 39 meters high Tower Keep offers a great landscape view of the castle’s lower ground and the lavish green nature surrounding the castle. The courtyard has antique cannons intended to protect the castle and the town of Braubach.

16. Marienburg Castle

Address: Marienberg 1, 30982 Pattensen, Germany

Marienburg Castle is a romantic medieval castle in Pattensen, Germany. The castle was built to become King George V’s wife’s summer house, a love token gift from the last king of Hanover to Queen Mary. It was constructed with a neo-Gothic style of architecture, reminiscent of a regal medieval hilltop castle creating a fairytale-like look.

The castle is 135 meters above sea level between Hanover and Hildesheim in Germany. Its location has a serene, untouched, and idealistic monument to a great romance. One of Hanover’s most influential and great architects, Conrad Wilhelm Hase, and his former apprentice Edwin Opple designed it. Today, Marienburg is one of Germany’s most impressive, romantic, and attractive historical buildings.

Marienburg Castle is an enchanting estate with a magical and romantic appearance, housing a well-preserved classic interior, paintings, towering turrets, weaponry, and other highlights that add to the castle’s beauty.

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17. Landgrafen Palace

Address: Schloß 1, 35037 Marburg, Germany

Landgrafen Palace, also known as the Marburger Schloss, is a timeless castle built in the 11th century as a fortress at the top of the hill of Marburg, Germany. The palace became the first residence of Landgraviate of Hesse and became a museum and event venue in 1981.

It is one of the center attractions of the town, and as it is settled above the city, it gives a great view of its majestic appearance from a low-angle shot view of the palace. The Landgrafen Palace houses a beautiful museum and collections that display the local culture within its five spacious floors and significantly impact its region.

It has a Gothic Prince’s Hall, Castle Chapel, Exhibits, Waldecker, Small Knight’s Hall, and outstanding interior designs to behold and admire.

The Landgrave’s Palace’s other highlights are the remarkable Museum of Cultural History it houses, the castle park blessed with impressive and diverse design, and its wonderful rose garden.

18. Sigmaringen Castle

Address: Karl-Anton-Platz 8, 72488 Sigmaringen, Germany

Sigmaringen Castle is a grand castle and museum also known as Hohenzollern Palace in Sigmaringen, Germany. It is a medieval castle turned into a modern residence and was first mentioned in 1077 in the Petershausen monastery chronicles. The manor is built and settled in a strategically advantageous position standing out on the skyline of the town of Sigmaringen.

The Sigmaringen Castle is created grounded in historicism and eclectic architectural elements. It is the style grounds for building a spectacular exterior and interior appearance after it underwent a renovation after the great fire of 1893.

The castle has various features, from its museum of art and armory collections to delightful palace tours, and welcomes events such as weddings and conferences. Its magnificence and charming and regal appearance makes it more special.

It is a Swabian manor of dukes, princes, and nobles of Germany that gives the ambiance of the first-hand experience of the historic castle’s colorful and distinctive past.

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19. Stolzenfels Castle

Address: Schlossweg 11, 56075 Koblenz, Germany

Stolzenfels Castle is a regal castle that rises high above the left bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The castle was built from the ruins of the 13th century forth in the 19th century.

One of the principal accomplishments of Prussian Rhine Romanticism historically, culturally, and artistically is the garden and park of Stolzenfels Castle.

In 1250, it was originally constructed as a toll castle; the French destroyed the fort in 1689, and it underwent restoration when Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm owned the ruins in 1823 and commissioned Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a famous architect, to reconstruct the castle.

Stolzenfels Castle’s opening was celebrated in 1836 and has been open to the public until now. Its regal and enchanting beauty provides a romantic, serene, and 19th-century ambiance for every castle corner—a perfect place to experience the epitome of Rhine Romanticism in its lovely town of Koblenz.

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20. Schloss Johannisburg

Address: Schloßpl. 4, 63739 Aschaffenburg, Germany

Schloss Johannisburg, also known as Johannisburg Palace, is an impressive medieval castle on the River Main in Aschaffenburg, Germany. The Schloss Johannisburg is an astonishing four-winged complex, formerly a residence of archbishop-electors of Mainz until 1803.

The palace is built from German Renaissance-era architecture under the request and supervision of Archbishop-Elector Johann Schweikard von Kronberg from 1605 to 1614. It was redesigned Neoclassically but witnessed World War II and took severe damage.

After World War II, the palace underwent another restoration and preserved its beauty. Aside from its spectacular and beautiful exterior, Schloss Johannisburg houses an interesting art gallery with Lucas Lucas Cranach’s works, a Municipal Museum, a Church with a Renaissance altar, various sculptures, a Vestment Chamber, and Neoclassical furnishings.

Some exciting and classic features make the palace unique and contribute an immense historical significance to the town of Aschaffenburg.

21. High Castle of Füssen

Address: Magnuspl. 10, 87629 Füssen, Germany

The Hohes Schloss von Füssen (or High Castle of Füssen) is one of Bavaria’s most spectacular and well-preserved medieval castles in this 13th-century structure. Its late Gothic style has remained mostly unchanged over the years.

The High Castle of Füssen sits atop a rocky ledge that affords a panoramic view of the village. Once the medieval summer palace of the Prince Bishops of Augsburg, Hohes Schloss is Bavaria’s largest and best-preserved Gothic castle complex.

It now houses the county tax office and the state art gallery. The castle’s interior is in good shape and briefly overviews architectural styles from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

View the Allgäu from the Veitskapelle, Germany’s highest castle chapel, and admire the Gothic timber ceilings in the Knight’s Room before checking out all of the dungeons in the tower.

22. Grünwald Castle

Address: Zeillerstraße 3, 82031 Grünwald bei München, Germany

The Middle Ages left their mark on the charming town of Grünwald in the form of Grünwald Castle. This hill castle was once an ammunition stockpile and prison. Still, it is now a section of Munich’s Archaeological National Museum as well as among the most charming architectural treasures in Germany.

This fortress was built around 1000 and stood for about 200 years before being demolished. It was never repaired and was eventually replaced with a church. A visit to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as the Chapel of Holy Blood, should be on your list of things to do in Grünwald.

And, because this is Upper Bavaria, it’s best enjoyed outside in the castle’s beer garden! If liquid bread isn’t your scene, excellent bicycle trails and walking pathways will always take you into the gorgeous countryside.

23. Linderhof Palace

Address: Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany

Linderhof Palace is in the picturesque town of Ettal in the German state of Hesse. The palace was built between 1870 and 1880, with the foundation stone placed into the bedrock in 1870. The notable architect Carl von Effner designed this stunning palace, now among Germany’s treasures.

The Palace is a great tourist destination for those looking for a cheap day out. Guests under 18 are welcome to explore the site for free, which is particularly useful for family visits.

A guided tour of the palace’s interior is the best way to see it. In addition to being fun and informative, the 25-minute tour will allow you to appreciate the ambiance surrounding you while you are in the palace. Do note that taking photographs is strictly forbidden.

24. Nymphenburg Palace

Address: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, 80638 München, Germany

Nymphenburg Palace, also known as the Schloss Nymphenburg, and its stunning park on the city’s western outskirts is one of Munich’s most popular attractions. Your tour will be worthwhile because of the majestic, elaborately furnished interiors and grandeur of this breathtaking palace.

Nymphenburg Palace’s interior decorations and designs were contributed by the most famous sculptors, plasterers, and painters of their day. The jaw-dropping three-story Stone Hall, the Steinerner Saal, once King Ludwig I’s beauty gallery, is a must-see. It features a portrait of the infamous Lola Montez, the woman with whom he (and many other rich, powerful, and famous men) had a tumultuous relationship.

Green silk covers the entire inside of King Ludwig II’s birth room. One of Germany’s largest and most important pieces of garden art is the Nymphenburg Palace Park, inspired by the French gardens of Versailles Palace.

It begins with an asymmetrical French-style arrangement running about 229 hectares that features streams, canals, cascades, bridges, branched walkways, and artificial lakes. In some sections, the park resembles a fairytale woodland thanks to many figures and statues and a discreetly hidden miniatures park of tiny castles and palaces.

History of Castles in Germany

The erection of castles in Germany began around 900 to 1,000 A.D. At that time, the European countryside was divided into small feudal territories rather than the distinct countries we are familiar with today.

Castles and palaces were erected for defensive reasons, to protect the leaders of each feudal state and the villagers under their protection from attacks by competing lords. After this period, the castles and palaces often became seats of government or landed in the hands of wealthy occupants.

Others fell into disrepair and ruin. Many of them have been restored and preserved so that their beauty can be admired and shared; Germany’s castles are a major source of tourism revenue.

When Americans think of castles, the image of the Disney Cinderella castle comes to mind, but what most people don’t realize is that it was modeled after a real Bavarian castle built by Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria, who was sometimes known as Mad King Ludwig.

Although it is not known whether Ludwig was actually insane, he was certainly eccentric. His passions were the composer Wagner and the construction of extreme flights of fancy castles.

The Most Famous Castle in Germany

The best known of these is the castle known as Neuschwanstein; unlike ancient German castles, this castle was built for pleasure rather than protection.

Ludwig built it for himself as a summer castle and equipped it with modern conveniences, including toilets that flush. It is characterized by soaring spires and is set high on a mountaintop.

Because of its remote location in southeast Bavaria, it escaped damage during both world wars, and the Nazis used it as a place to store stolen works of art during the war.

In 1945, they ordered that the castle be destroyed to prevent what they considered a German treasure from falling into enemy hands. Still, the people responsible for the demolition didn’t fulfill their orders.

Today, the castle is open to the public and is one of Germany’s most visited sites; it has received over 50,000,000 visitors since it was built.

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