The Burgenstrasse is a well-known historic autoroute through southern Germany. This beautiful route from Mannheim to Bayreuth goes for almost 1000 km through (mainly) the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The route passes by more than 80 castles, fortresses and aristocratic residences and more places of interest. The route once continued for another 400 kilometers in the Czech Republic.

The star ratings (4.4*) of the sights are taken from Google Maps. This allows you to decide for yourself what you want to watch and what not. Suggestions for other points of interest along the route are also provided. Some castles are in use as a hotel or as a residence and cannot be visited. Or rather: you can sleep there for a night.

If you have stopped the previous route before Binau, you will still get through it. Binau has two castles, one of which is a ruin (Burg Dauchstein, 3.8*) and the other a home for the elderly (Schloss Binau, 3.1*). We drive to Mosbach, a short part of the route along the Neckar, up along the river Elz. Mosbach is a nice old town with half-timbered houses. The castle is small, beautiful, but not to visit. Take a look at the museum Haus Kickelhain (4.8*), marvel at the half-timbered houses around the town hall (4.5*) and enjoy the Evangelische Stiftskirche St. Juliana (4.7*).

We drive along the top towards Neckarzimmern, where Hornberg Castle is located. It is a large complex that now houses a hotel, restaurant, museum and wine tasting. 4.4* Along the main road is the Town Hall, a small newer castle that is also beautiful.

We drive on to Gundelsheim where Horneck Castle is located on the hill. Today a museum for Transylvanian art from Romania, but it was once also a hospital, sanatorium and even a brewery. 4.4*

We cross the Neckar and leave this river for a long detour past a number of castles. The first is Guttenberg Castle, a very beautiful castle, well preserved, with lots to see and do. An exhibition about life in the knights' era, a birds of prey show and there is a restaurant: maybe time for a cup of coffee. Also take a walk to the cemetery, where you have a nice view over the Neckar valley. 4.6*

After Guttenberg we continue to Obergimpern. The small castle there is unfortunately not accessible because it is private property. The village is not special either, so we continue to Neckarbischofsheim. Neckarbischofsheim Castle is located there. The new, largest part is now a luxury hotel. The old part can sometimes be visited, but is also rented out for weddings. You can at least take a walk through the town and the gardens. You will then see a wealth of historic buildings: the Totenkirche (church of the dead), Altes Schloss (old castle), the pentagonal tower, Altes Rathaus (old town hall), to name the most important.

We are now driving to Sinsheim. There is a vehicle museum where you can see everything: Formula 1 cars, steam trains, a Tupolev jet plane, various engines and much more. Very worthwhile and perhaps also a good place to have lunch. 4.7* After the museum we drive past the huge football stadium and on to Steinsberg Castle, located at an altitude of 330 meters, a popular destination. The "Kraichgau compass" offers a fantastic view over the Kraichgau to the forest of Odes. The castle complex is accessible free of charge at all times, the tower can be climbed. You can also have lunch here, which is more luxurious than in the museum in Sinsheim. 4.6*

We drive back past the castle and the surrounding vineyards to the Necker to Bad Rappenau, where there is an old moated castle. The castle is now an art gallery with occasional exhibitions. Check the website if there is anything to see and in any case take a look, it is very beautiful. 4.4* We continue back to the Neckar. First we drive past Ehrenburg Castle: a ruin that is used as a holiday home. You can walk through them, but not inside the buildings. 3.8*. A little further on is the hotel Schloss Heinsheim: luxurious rooms, large halls, a swimming pool, a luxurious restaurant, but not open to the public. 4.5*

Bad Wimpfen is a beautiful historic town on the Neckar with a beautiful view from the castle. There are also many historic buildings to see and visit in the town. Definitely worth hanging out for a while. 4.7* Now that you're in the area, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to visit the nearby monastery and associated church Saint Peter. The church is beautiful and huge. 5.0* The monastery is equally impressively large and beautiful. 4.7* You can even sleep there and that is very affordable and special!

We have now been on the road for about 8 hours and this is a good region to spend the night. The route first makes a detour off the Neckar, via the Jagst River, before rejoining the Neckar at Neckarsulm. If you want to drive a bit, you can do that first. Otherwise, you can skip that now and do it tomorrow. You will pass the following castles: Heuchlingen (from the 12th century, privately owned and not accessible) 4.4*, Burg Herbolzheim / Heriboldisburg (ruins, remains of a high medieval castle above the Jagst valley. Except for the (reconstructed) almost 30 meters high and almost 9 meters in diameter, round tower and some remains of the kennel and wall, nothing of the complex has survived today. You can walk there if you like.) 3.0*, Neudenau Castle (was built in the 13th It served as the seat of the Mainz cellar until 1802. From 1803 to 1869 it belonged to the Counts of Leiningen-Neudenau until it became private property in 1869. The city bought it in 1871 and converted it into a school building. the Josefine-Weihrauch-Heimatmuseum is located here.) 4.3* and the half-timbered houses in the town, Presteneck (water castle, not accessible) 4.0* and Lautenbacherhof (beautiful, but dilapidated private property, not accessible).

End point is hotel Schloss Lehen in Bad Friedrichshall Hotel Schloss Lehen in Bad Friedrichshall (€ 94, price level 2021) 4.3*