Castle wedding venues in Germany for elopements and intimate wedding ceremonies

There are many castle wedding venues in Germany, and it’s a good idea to narrow down your search by location. In addition to castles, Germany also has cottages, villas and charming chalets which are perfect for hosting an intimate number of guests.

This blog is your venue inspiration as you plan your intimate wedding or elopement in Germany!

UpDATED FOR 2025 Table of Contents

4 castle grounds free or flexible for exploring and taking photos

Schloss Neuschwanstein
Burg Eltz
Lichtenstein Castle
Heidelberg Castle

The above famous castles in Germany aren’t usually available for private events. That said, the grounds of many historic castles are open to the public. You can absolutely explore the perimeter and grounds for photos at your leisure. Most times, tickets are only required if you want an indoor tour. Keep in mind, photos are typically not allowed inside these castles, even if you’ve booked a tour.

Arrive for sunrise at super famous locations to avoid the tourist crowds as well. You won’t want to be there past 8 or 9 in the morning.

Renting smaller, family owned castles for weddings

If you’re looking instead for a place you can rent, either for a private ceremony or for hosting your intimate guest list, try smaller, family owned castles.

As a note, many smaller castle wedding venues in Germany may not have English speaking staff or websites.
It’s a good idea to hire a local, German speaking photographer or wedding planner to help with communication.

PRO TIP: Until then, I recommend using Deepl translator. You can type up, translate and respond to emails quickly. You’ll get faster and more helpful responses!

Schloss Arenfels

This castle is located between Cologne and Frankfurt. It’s perfect for hosting an international guests list, as everyone can fly into Frankfurt and arrive directly by train.

Accommodation and amenities include:

10 hotel rooms and suites for up to 30 people
free choice of catering
located in the vineyards
mobile stair lift for guests with walking difficulties

accommodates groups of 30 – 200 people
Indoor seating for up to 200 guests
large, secluded courtyard exclusively for you
three party areas to choose from

Website language: German

How to get in touch: https://www.schloss-arenfels.com/kontakt/

Photo of Castle: https://www.rheinburgenweg.com/a-schloss-arenfels

Schloss Saareck

This castle wedding venue in Germany is actually located near the border with Luxembourg, in southwestern Germany. It is right on the Saar river, making an outdoor ceremony on the grounds a serene option.

Accommodation and amenities include:

Catering options
Historic rooms for getting ready and relaxing

Accommodates up to 200 people
Multiple outdoor locations for a ceremony
Plenty of rooms for overnight stays

Website language: German and English

How to get in touch: https://www.schloss-saareck.de/en/contact-route

Schloss Hürbel

The history of this castle reaches back all the way to 1083! You can wow your guests with its newly renovated grounds, and get ready in rooms with original wallpapers over 230 years old. Therefore, it’s a truly romantic piece of history and one of the oldest of these castle wedding venues in Germany.

Accommodation and amenities include:

All apartments are equipped with kitchen and household appliances, as well as bathrooms and bedrooms

For wedding photoshoots only: €250 with prior booking

Website language: German

How to get in touch: https://schloss-huerbel.de/kontakt/

Airbnb listing here

Saar Castle

Saar castle is a previous winery for the famous German wine, Riesling. It’s located on the Saar and Mosel rivers, not far from the borders with Luxembourg and France.

Accommodations and amenities include:

English speaking
7 bedrooms with 9 beds (1 king, 2 double and 6 single) for 14 guests
additional beds can be made available
large living-dining room with river and mountain views, library with sofa, terraces
Completely renovated separate kitchen
3 hectares of private grounds
2 terraces perfect for holding barbecues, overlooking the Riesling vineyards
Private parking inside the property for 8 cars
Absolute privacy

Website language: English, German, Spanish, French, Russian

How to get in touch: http://saarfels.com/

Airbnb listing here

Schloss Duttenstein

This venue is located between Stuttgart and Munich. It has a focus on the surrounding forest and wildlife, and is perfect for couples who enjoy being surrounded by nature.

Accommodations and amenities include:

11 double rooms in Duttenstein Castle and more in adjacent buildings
Events for approx. 130 people
Castle kitchen for professional catering
Terraces and wildlife park for receptions and breaks
500 hectare wildlife park

Website language: German

How to get in touch: https://www.schloss-duttenstein.de/herzlich-willkommen-im-Schloss-Duttenstein.html

Photo by Schloss Duttenstein

Schloss Rothstein

Between Frankfurt and Hannover lies the next of our castle wedding venues in Germany. Its gothic charm and 130 years of history is a romantic location for intimate weddings.

Accommodation and amenities include:

Exclusive catering
Rooms can be booked individually or in blocks
Civil weddings available (up to 25 guests)
Spaces for ceremonies include: entrance hall, wood paneled “wedding hall,” ballroom, castle garden

Website language: German

How to get in touch: https://www.rothestein.de/kontakt-buchung

Smaller alternatives to castle wedding venues in Germany:
chalets, villas & cottages you can rent

Depending on your party’s size and your overall wedding budget, you may find a villa or chalet more comfortable. There are many very cute, smaller wedding venues in Germany that can accommodate your event.

Here are some of my favorites:

Entire Villa in Suderburg, Germany

Located in northern Germany between Hamburg and Hannover. This villa is perfect for those who really just want a cozy summer vacation home that feels like a luxurious cottage in the woods. It’s ideal for groups of 5-10 wanting a small backyard bbq style elopement.

Accommodation and amenities include:

4 bedrooms; 1 small double, 2 queens and 1 king bed
nearly 450 sqm mansion
large swimming lake where you can even boat
Thermomix TM6, which you can use for cooking family meals
4 ha property grounds
access to the sauna relaxation room for €20/use
barbeque area by the lake for bonfires and late evenings
piano

Airbnb listing here

Photo by Herrenhaus Suderburg

Gut Neuwerk Vacation Home

Located between Bonn and the Belgian border. This family owned vacation home is a green and nature focused place to host your private wedding in Germany.

Accommodation and amenities:

Banquet hall for up to 70 people
Garden ceremonies up to 120 people
Weekend long rentals
Family setting
Secluded and private property

Website: German

How to get in touch: https://gutneuwerk.de/veranstaltungen/

Güldenstein Estate

This estate home was built in the 16th century and was originally a moated castle. It’s located in the northern tip of Germany and is now available to rent for events and small weddings. It has horse stables on the grounds for those that appreciate an equestrian atmosphere.

Accommodation and amenities include:

Catering on request
Can accommodate up to 70
Seating and tables available on request

Website language: German

How to get in touch: http://www.urlaub-gueldenstein.de/kontakt.html

Photo by http://www.urlaub-gueldenstein.de/

Need a photographer for your castle wedding day? I’m Gina! Intimate wedding and elopement photographer based in Germany

I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. Due to my massive love for the English language, my husband and I lived in London for 1.5 years, and are now back in Germany. I’m a mum to a little boy and love to create a life full of love.

Over my 150 weddings so far, I’ve learned my biggest goal is to give my couples a stress-free experience.

If you’re ready to talk more about your castle wedding in Germany, reach out!

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