9 Breathtaking German Castles

Germany, in its many geographical and cultural incarnations, has always been both a crossroads and a political player in Europe. Over the past millennium, the nobility has responded to frequent wars, danger, and even wildlife by building large, sturdy castles—many of which survive today, and most are open for tourism. See nine of them in a list I posted at mental_floss.

(Image credit: Marco Beck)