Lichtenstein Castle high above the Echaz valley in southern Germany by Marga Vroom

Schloss Lichtenstein is often called the 'Fairytale Castle of Württemberg' because of its picturesque location and neo-Gothic architecture.
Schloss Lichtenstein, high above the Echaz valley in southern Germany, is a dream made up of romance and medieval inspiration. Its breathtaking location on a steep rock rising from the valley makes it one of the country's most photographed and iconic castles. Lichtenstein Castle is located in the municipality of Lichtenstein, near Reutlingen, in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.
The castle is dramatically located on the northwestern edge of the Schwäbische Alb (Swabian Jura), a low mountain range known for its karst landscape, caves and impressive castles.
It stands at an altitude of 817 metres and towers about 250 metres above the Echaz valley. Its spkaectacular location on the cliff makes the castle accessible via only 1 bridge, emphasising the medieval, defensible nature of an altitude castle.
The autumn colours on the surrounding hills, as shown beautifully in the photo, emphasise the castle's fairytale appearance.
The history of Schloss Lichtenstein is unique, as the current building is relatively young. it is tangible evidence of romanticism in the 19th century, a period with a renewed fascination for the Middle Ages.