Museum Burg Hornberg

About the museum

Hornberg Castle sits on a rocky spur above the Neckar valley and is first documented around 1140, under Count Boppo of Lauffen. At that time only the Lower Castle with its massive Romanesque residential tower existed. About a hundred years later the Upper Castle was added, creating a large double complex.

In 1517 the imperial knight Götz von Berlichingen bought the castle and lived here until his death in 1562. Under his descendants the fortress was converted into a residence; around 1560 the three-story Palas with its knights' hall was built. Since 1932 the Lower Castle has again been the ancestral seat of the von Gemmingen-Hornberg family, who maintain the site after a roughly ten-year basic renovation and open it to visitors.

The castle museum displays the original armor of Götz, made between about 1520 and 1535, which weighs around 30 kilograms and returned to Neckarzimmern in 1804. There are also medieval weapons, a castle model, and two family volumes about 400 years old: the "Turnierbuch der Kraichgauer Ritter" from 1616 and the "Hortus Eystettensis" from 1613, which can be leafed through digitally, page by page. A route with 24 stations leads through the outer bailey, the inner castle, the chapel and the Palas.

Highlights

• Original knight's armor of Götz von Berlichingen
• Turnierbuch der Kraichgauer Ritter (1616) and Hortus Eystettensis (1613) available digitally
• Route with 24 stations through the outer bailey, inner castle and Palas
• Keep with views over the Neckar valley
• Castle chapel and herb garden
• Themed tours and wine tastings by registration

Permanent exhibitions

• Burgmuseum mit Götz-Rüstung – The original armor of Götz von Berlichingen, medieval weapons, a castle model and family volumes that can be leafed through digitally.
• Burgrundgang mit 24 Stationen – Self-guided route through the outer bailey, inner castle, castle chapel, Palas with knights' hall and keep.

Operated by

Familie von Gemmingen-Hornberg (Rentamt Burg Hornberg)

Admission & discounts

Admission without a guided tour: adults €7, children (aged 6–17) €5. With castle tour: €11 and €9. Payment in cash or contactless with EC (debit) and common credit cards. Visitors arriving by bus and train (bwegt Plus) receive a 10% discount on admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is only partly accessible: rollator users can view the castle shop, the museum room and parts of the Lower Castle from outside; wheelchair users can only view the Lower Castle from outside and the castle shop. The Upper Castle is not accessible. Dogs are allowed on a leash. The keep has 160 steps.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities

Age-appropriate tours for kindergarten, school and youth groups. The castle has many stairs and natural paths, so bringing a stroller is not recommended; children should not be left unsupervised.

Getting there & parking

Route via the A 6 (exit Sinsheim or Neckarsulm) or the A 81 (Osterburken) to the B 27 and on to Neckarzimmern; from the riverboat landing and station it is about 1 km on foot to the castle. Neckarelz station is 4 km away.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Castle shop with tickets, castle guidebook (€5), souvenirs and wine from the castle's own winery; restrooms with a baby changing station.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Available for rent are the wedding chapel (approx. 50 seats, €250 per event) and the castle chapel in the inner castle (approx. 12 seats, €180 including 10 admission tokens), in each case regardless of denomination. Lessons for school classes are possible in the knights' hall (up to 30 students).

Plan your visit