Burgruine Hilpoltstein : Maria-Dorothea-Straße 7, 91161 Hilpoltstein

Hello fellow time travelers! Today I want to share with you my experience of visiting the Burgruine Hilpoltstein, a medieval castle ruin in Bavaria, Germany. If you are looking for a place to explore some history, enjoy some scenic views and maybe even meet some ghosts, this is the place for you! The Burgruine Hilpoltstein dates back to the 11th century and was built by the lords of Stein, who were very influential and powerful in the region. They had good relations with the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and founded the towns of Hilpoltstein and Freystadt. They also had a lot of drama in their family, like Heinrich III, who tried to become a bishop but failed, or Hilpolt IV, who died without heirs and ended the dynasty . The castle was then sold to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria, who used it as a residence for their widows. One of them was Maria Dorothea, who expanded and renovated the castle in the 17th century. She was also very religious and generous, and donated a lot of money to churches and monasteries. She died in 1639 and was buried in Seligenporten Abbey . After her death, the castle was abandoned and fell into decay. It was used as a quarry and a prison until it was bought by the county of Roth in 1972. Since then, it has been restored and opened to the public . You can visit the castle from April to October and see the remains of the palas, the chapel, the bergfried (donjon) and the ring wall. You can also enjoy a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding countryside from the top of the hill. The castle also hosts some cultural events throughout the year, like a medieval festival in May and a theater festival in August. You can also find a tourist information center, an archive and a community college in the former granary. If you are lucky, you might even encounter some of the former inhabitants of the castle, who are said to haunt the place. Some people have reported seeing or hearing strange things, like footsteps, voices or apparitions. So, if you are looking for a fun and interesting day trip in Bavaria, I highly recommend visiting the Burgruine Hilpoltstein. You will not regret it! And if you do meet any ghosts, please let me know in the comments!

Interesting and the start of a nice 1/2 hour walk around the town walls

Beautiful ancient castle with tower. You should take effort to get up for beautiful panoramic view.