I woke up on Sunday morning and decided I wanted to visit a castle. Fortunately living in Germany, It's not that difficult to turn this thought into a reality.

1. Castle Ruins in Stuttgart
monkeysandmountains.com /castle-ruins-in-stuttgart
I woke up on Sunday morning and decided I wanted to visit a castle.
Fortunately living in Germany, there’s no shortage of castles and it’s not that difficult to turn this thought into a reality.
What did surprise me though was that we found one – or what remained of one, Burgruine Hofen (Castle ruin Hofen) 6km
from our apartment in the NE district of Hofen Neugereut in Stuttgart, which also happens to be the only castle ruin in
Stuttgart.
No one knows exactly when

2. No one knows exactly when
Castle Hofen was built, but there
are records referring to it as far
back as 1120. Castle Hofen was
built beside the Neckar River to
ward off enemy attacks on the
village which was next to the
castle. On the other side of the
river was another similar castle
built next to another village for
the same purpose.
Unfortunately nothing remains of
the castle on the other side of
the river. Castle Hofen is now
referred to as a castle ruin since
it was largely destroyed in the 30
year war from 1618 – 1648.
Above are what remains of
Castle Hofen today, the only
castle ruin in Stuttgart!
It was clear that Castle Hofen
meant business. Throughout the
castle were many small
openings for guards to shoot at
enemies, but the small holes
made it difficult for enemies to
shoot back.
We may think of recycling as a
new concept but it’s been around
since at least 1783, when part of
the castle ruins were used to
build a wall around the Church of
St. Barbara which stands next to
the castle ruins of Hofen.
In many ways, life has changed
little since 1120. Castle Hofen
was built right beside a village
and today it’s possible to live
An a r ti s t’s d e p i cti o n o f h o w Ca s tl e Ho fe n l o o ke d i n 1120

3. right beside the castle ruins of
Hofen. As soon as I saw this I
immediately began looking for
“For Rent” signs in apartment
windows, much to my German
fiance’s chagrin, who didn’t
see why we would leave an
apartment we’re happy in, to
live beside castle ruins.
Unfortunately I didn’t see any
“For Rent” signs, but I haven’t
given up my search yet!
As if discovering that castle
ruins existed so close to my
home wasn’t enough, we also
found there was a lovely
walking path along the Neckar
River. On the other side of the
Neckar River are vineyards.
Castle ruins and wine? This
was turning out to be a very
good day!
We also discovered a German
restaurant along the Neckar
River overlooking Max- Eyth
Lake. The views can’t be beat
and the cappuccinos were
divine, but overpriced.
Fortunately there are also
picnic spots along the Neckar
Th e ca s tl e r u i n s o f Ho fe n , th e o n l y ca s tl e r u i n s i n S tu ttg a r t

4. River
so
you
can
bring
your
own
lunch
if
G u a r d s wo u l d s h o o t a t e n e m i e s fr o m s m a l l o p e n i n g s fo u n d th r o u g h o u t Ca s tl e Ho fe n

5. Ca s tl e r u i n s g e t a n e w l i fe
Li vi n g b e s i d e th e ca s tl e r u i n s o f Ho fe n

6. Vi n e ya r d s l i n e th e o th e r s i d e o f th e r i ve r b a n k a cr o s s fr o m th e Ho fe n ca s tl e r u i n s
Re s ta u r a n t n e a r th e ca s tl e r u i n s
desired. When I woke up I was hoping to see a castle, but as the events of the day unfolded, not only did I get a castle
ruin, but one close to my house in a beautiful setting in a new part of Stuttgart that I hadn’t been too. Do Sundays get
any better than this?
What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?
About Laurel
Laurel Robbins is a free- spirited adventurer, award- winning travel blogger at Monkeys and Mountains
Adventure Travel Blog. Many hats, one travel obsessed Canadian in Germany.