Tuscany Tour 2026

On the last day, we ascended to the Hohenneuffen castle ruins in high temperatures, which can also be seen from the campsite below. 

As we were not allowed to drive up to the castle, we rode our scooter to the hiking parking lot at the foot of Hohenneuffen Castle. From here, there is about a 30-minute walk along the roughly 1.5-kilometer path to the castle, with the final ascent over cobblestones being quite steep and requiring some stamina. However, you are rewarded with a fantastic view of the landscape once you reach the top. 

Hohenneuffen Castle is one of the largest fortress ruins in southern Germany. The high castle is situated on a 743-meter high rock spur of the Swabian Jura above Neuffen (Esslingen district) in Baden-Württemberg. Here, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Württemberg landscape.

The Hohenneuffen castle has been continually expanded throughout its 700-year history. Its location on a rock spur made it difficult to access, and the increasingly sophisticated fortress ultimately became impregnable. Even today, the ruins impress with their walls, towers, and casemates.

The Hohenneuffen was settled as early as ancient times. The castle was built between 1100 and 1120 by Mangold von Sulmetingen, who later called himself von Neuffen. The castle proved its defensive capabilities during the internal conflicts of the Holy Roman Empire (the Imperial War), where it could not be taken in 1312.

Like other fortresses, the Hohenneuffen always served as a state prison, where important prisoners were held and even tortured.

More on this here:

https://www.festungsruine-hohenneuffen.de/

The next day, we tackled the last leg home and arrived a few days earlier than planned.