Neckarsteinach Four Castles
Neckarsteinach
The “City of Four Castles,” where four medieval castles stand side by side on a ridge above the Neckar. You can reach them from Heidelberg by boat or train.
Neckarsteinach lies about 14 km east of Heidelberg, in the German state of Hesse. It is known as the “City of Four Castles” because four 12th- and 13th-century castles line the ridge: Vorderburg, Mittelburg, Hinterburg and Schwalbennest. A ridge trail links all four in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Hinterburg and Schwalbennest are ruins that you can visit freely. In summer, Neckar river cruises run from Heidelberg, taking about 1.5 hours one way, or you can take the S-Bahn in about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Ruins open all day; central keep is private and closed to visitors
Nearby sights
- Dilsberg
- Stift Neuburg Abbey
- Königstuhl & Heidelberg Funicular
- Karlstor
- Heidelberg Castle
- Kornmarkt
- Church of the Holy Spirit & Marktplatz
- Old Bridge (Karl Theodor Bridge)