Guttenberg Castle is one of the oldest and most beautiful castles in Germany. It is located high above the romantic Neckar Valley, idyllically surrounded by vineyards in the Neckarmühlbach district of Haßmersheim. I visited Guttenberg Castle in the summer, which is one of the last undestroyed Staufer castles in Germany. It has been inhabited since 1449 by its owner family, the Barons of Gemmingen, now in their 17th generation. I parked my car in the parking lot in front of the castle and was immediately impressed by the sight of the mighty keep. I walked through the archway and after a few minutes reached the castle tavern, where knight’s feasts are regularly held and whose viewing terrace offers a wonderful view over the vineyards into the romantic Neckar Valley. The castle tavern has three differently designed rooms with space for 200 people. Guttenberg Castle also has its own registry office in the fountain house and a beautiful castle chapel. This makes it the ideal place to get married. What woman wouldn’t want to feel like a princess on the happiest day of her life and marry her Prince Charming in a romantic castle? Guttenberg Castle is truly a dream setting for a fairytale wedding. After visiting the castle chapel, we went to the heart of the German Bird of Prey Sanctuary. Spectacular flight demonstrations by large birds of prey take place here twice a day. Eagles, vultures, and eagle owls fly high above Guttenberg Castle. The huge birds, with a wingspan of over two meters, such as monk vultures, griffon vultures, white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, and imperial eagles, can be admired in free flight during the show, which is almost unique in Germany. The German Bird of Prey Sanctuary also offers falconry lessons and bird of prey sponsorships and is involved in species conservation. Birds in care are prepared for controlled wild flight through targeted flight training. In the castle museum, I was able to experience the exciting and adventurous life of the Middle Ages up close. I immersed myself in a bygone era with knight’s armor, weapons, and a creepy torture chamber. I experienced a journey through time from the Middle Ages to the 19th century in the exhibition “Life in a Knight’s Castle,” which led to the 40-meter-high tower. From the platform of the tower, my gaze wandered over the Neckar Valley and the neighboring castles. Guttenberg Castle is also famous for its wooden library, a collection of 93 volumes that look like books and feature almost all native wood species, including dried leaves and fruits. In addition, below Guttenberg Castle is a medieval hostel called “Zum Marstall,” where anyone can stay like the knights of old in the large knight’s camp on camp beds or in 14 boudoirs. I felt the flair of the Middle Ages and was fascinated by the history of Guttenberg Castle, which was revealed to me during my tour. The sight of the historic walls and the mighty keep alone were impressive.
