I'm thinking about taking a trip to Germany next summer with my 11 year old son for a week (other son will be in Sweden at soccer/football tournament with husband). We've been to Germany previously (so soccer son won't feel like he is missing anything and younger son does not want to watch his brother play soccer for a week). DS loves castles and would like to stay in one. Does anyone have any suggestions for a castle stay for a couple of nights in Germany? DS also wants to spend a day again at Europa Park in Rust. We will probably fly into Frankfurt or Stuttgart. I will rent a car. Any castle ideas? Thank you!

One of the nicest castle hotels, in my opinion, is the Auf Schoenburg in Oberwesel on the Rhine River. It's probably and hour and a half from Frankfurt airport.

http://www.hotel-schoenburg.com/

If you do a search here on Fodor's, you'll also see some other recommendations for the Auf Schoenburg.

Auf Schoenberg is nice, but I think it is more suited to a mature couple on a romantic trip than an 11 year old fascinated with castles.

I haven't, however stayed in any other castles that I can clearly recommend. I almost booked Burg Colmberg, near Rothenburg od Tauber once. It seems like it would be a little more suited to a boy's sense of a castle, and the walled villages of Franconia would complement that better than the Rhein, I think.

Maybe you could search for "Germany castle hotels", narrow it down to some good ones, and let the young lad have a say.

Aramis, that's why I told the OP to search here for other recommendations. I do believe some other posters DID have children with them that really enjoyed the Auf Schoenburg.

I have stayed at both the Auf Schoenburg and Burg Colmberg. They are both fabulous. Schoenburg is more elegant and refined (and yes, very romantic) but Colmberg is amazing in its own right. I think an 11-year-old boy who loves castles would enjoy either one.

Take your son to see Burg Frankentstein near Darmstadt. You can't stay over night there, but it is fun for kids to say they have been there. There are several youth hostels that are in castles, so if you google "jugenherberge" and then switch the page to English, you will be able to find them. I believe there is one near Rüdesheim.

Sorry - "jugendherberge"

I too vote for Colmberg, here's a link to their english website:

http://www.burg-colmberg.de/showpage...D=1&lang=2

we stayed there last year for 2 nights and loved it. Our room was small but nice and it was fun to explore the castle itself. Also, it is very near to Rothenburg ob der Tauber which I think your son would enjoy, maybe the Medievel Crime Museum for a visit and you "man the ramparts" by walking the wall, besides visiting the gardens and the town itself.
Enjoy,
Susan

betty;

I'm not sure what to make of your response to my post.

I am sure that lots of people and their children have enjoyed Auf Schoenberg - that fact is irrelevant to my opinion and to my offering the OP some additional information to consider. You provided one recommendation, I provided some additional feedback on your suggestion, another option and some regional factors to consider. Is no one supposed to have a different opinion?

I think there are far too many "this is my favourite place and you will love it too" types of posts. Of course we should share our personal experiences, that is what people are asking for, but when it gets down to defending a single place against other peoples suggestions....

Another vote for Schoenberg Castle Hotel. We loved it--beautiful room with balconey and great view and the restaurant is very good also.

Aramis, I'm sorry if that's what you took away from my post. That wasn't my intent.

I just was hoping that the OP wouldn't be put off by your post of "more suited to a more mature couple" when I KNEW that some posters here on Fodor's had stayed there with children and really enjoyed it.

Obviously, we all have different tastes and opinions, but you made a blanket statement that thought might be misleading.

You felt you had to protect the OP from an opinion that was different from yours.

I agreed with you that Auf Schoenberg was nice and prefaced my additional suggestion with "I think" - and in that you found a "blanket statement" worthy of push back.

"Somebody" has enjoyed every hotel, everywhere, I don't think you need to take up the defence of a 4 star castle on the Rhine.

Oh, and thank you for being sorry for me for misinterpreting the approach that you just reiterated - I call that the "I'm sorry you were so ignorant as to be offended by my comments" apology. It's a favourite of politicians.

Aramis, you are getting a little bent out of shape over nothing, IMO.

I'm sorry you took offense to anything I said. I wasn't trying to discount your opinion.

And if that apology ain't good enough for you, I'm done trying.

Since you are avoiding addressing my specific points on the nature of your response and you are apologizing - again - for my behaviour there is no need to indicate that you are done "trying".

Aramis, kiss my grits!

For some reason, you are determined to be offended by my response.

So be it.

This is my first time back on this site in many months because I got so sick of the self-appointed experts and holier-than-thou attitude. Somebody expresses an opinion or suggestion then the Inner Clique pile on telling the neophyte what a moron they are. Or immediately accuses them of having some kind of agenda.

Bye again. I'll check back in three months.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll report what we choose once we make a decision. DS loved checking these places out online.

Pamela

We stayed two nights at Burg Colmberg a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. Good restaurant, too.