Centuries-old hilltop castle in Upper Swabia, converted into a palace in the 16th century: experience museum with daily guided tours, children’s program and observation platform; closed on Mondays.
From August 6, 2026
Art exhibition of the Ravensburg-Weingartener Kunstverein (travelling exhibition) on the Feldkirch Freedom Charter (Freiheitsbrief) of 1376; the works on captivity and responsibility are spread across the floors of the castle.
Waldburg Castle on a ridge in Upper Swabia is marketed as the “Three Emperors’ Castle” and is considered almost a thousand years old. Around 1220, Eberhard von Tanne-Waldburg kept the imperial regalia of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II here for at least 23 years. During the Peasants’ War of 1525 it was the family seat of Georg Truchsess von Waldburg, known as “Bauernjörg”. In the 16th century the castle was converted into a palace; it has survived in that state to this day – castle and palace in one. The museum therefore calls itself “Schloss Waldburg” or “Mittelalterliche Erlebniswelt Waldburg”.
The castle is also of geographical significance: in 1818 it served as a first-order trigonometric point in the survey of the Kingdom of Württemberg. According to the operator, the view from the observation platform reaches across Lake Constance to the Swiss Alps and the Zugspitze.
Today the castle is a privately run museum without public subsidies; its upkeep is financed from admission and catering. The “Medieval Experience World” combines castle tours with rallies, hands-on stations and a multimedia guide. Its special features include a faithful replica of the imperial regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, talking portraits of historical figures, a hands-on armory, a facsimile of Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 map of America and a photo room with costumes. Numerous events are spread throughout the year: from the season opening around Easter and the Burgfantasie at Pentecost, knights’ and dragon days in summer and Halloween for children in the autumn holidays to the Rauhnächte (Twelve Nights) with Krampuses and Perchten between Christmas and Epiphany; there are also knights’ dinners and family Sundays.
| Adults | €14.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €13.50People with severe disabilities, students and seniors aged 65 and over (€1 reduction with proof) |
| Children & teens | €10.50free up to age 2 · Children aged 3 to 16; children celebrating their birthday up to age 16 enter free. |
| Seniors | €13.50Aged 65 and over, €1 reduction with proof. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €13.50People with severe disabilities, €1 reduction with proof. |
| Students & apprentices | €13.50€1 reduction with proof. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €13 per personFrom 15 people by advance registration, including a guided tour; for every 20 people, one group leader enters free in addition to the bus driver. |
| Families | –Children enter free with the Baden-Württemberg state family pass. |
| Smart Time ticket (from 15:30) | €9.50From age 3; no further reduction possible. |
| Annual pass, adults | €60 |
| Annual pass, children aged 3 to 16 | €45 |
| Escape chest for up to 6 adults | €35Per group, plus castle admission. |
| Children's birthday chest for up to 10 children | €35Per group, plus castle admission. |
One price for everything: admission includes guided tours, the children's program, the multimedia guide, the observation platform and rallies. A €1 reduction also applies with the Bodensee-echt-Card, Allgäu-Walser-Card, Gästekarte Region Waldburg, bwegtPlus, a day-current bwtarif ticket, and for residents of Waldburg with ID; only one reduction per individual price. Accepted for Bodensee Plus, Auszeit Card Oberschwaben and Corporate Benefits.
The castle is not suitable for people with mobility impairments: 160 steps up to the observation platform, no lift and thresholds everywhere; there is no wheelchair-accessible toilet. People with disabilities can drive up to the castle by arrangement. There are tactile objects, offerings in Easy Language, and a video and audio guide in several languages; assistance dogs are allowed. A virtual castle (multimedia guide online) makes it possible to visit from home. Dogs are welcome in the castle.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
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Daily children's program with a children's tour, rallies (ghosts, dragons, castle), a mystery table, dragon shooting, a fairy-tale tent and puppet theater; on Sundays and public holidays additionally a family day with a show program. Armory and costumes to touch and try on. Children's birthday parties with a puzzle chest.
Free parking · 300 m to the entrance
Free parking at Amtzeller Straße 7 in Waldburg; from there it is about 300 meters and 48 meters of elevation to the castle on foot. People with disabilities can drive up to the castle by arrangement.
The castle lies where the Allgäu, Lake Constance and Upper Swabia meet. A themed trail of stelae with a free quiz leads along the Burgsteig to the castle. The address Schloss 1 only indicates the castle’s location; there is neither parking nor a postal address there – for your satnav, enter the car park at Amtzeller Straße 7 in Waldburg. Postal address: Schloss Waldburg, Max Haller, Seestraße 6, 88239 Wangen im Allgäu.
Get directionsCafé in the experience world, Burgküche 1108 (Sundays and public holidays), beer garden in the inner courtyard, wine bar with Waldburg wines, and knights' dinners by reservation.
Knights' dinners, weddings, company and Christmas parties, children's birthdays and other events; overnight stays in the Staufer Suite.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes |
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| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR, UK) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Daily guided tours for adults and children at 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. The multimedia guide runs as a web app on your own smartphone and tells the story of each room through images, film and sound (about 1.5 hours of content); for school classes there are quizzes in three age groups and children's education programs. |
