Frankenstein Castle in Mühltal

Wonderful view of the surrounding area and Frankfurt.

The castle is a great day trip destination. I would have liked to take a guided tour. It's worth checking in advance when this is offered.

I went for a day hike to this castle from Darmstadt center and it was a really good hike to be honest. Climbing uphill along side the view was really good. The hills reminded me of my homeland. I had chosen this castle as final stop and view from it was so good. I was happy that even Frankfurt skyline was visible from here and the castle was well protected and free to enter as well. Definitely recommend and you can also get your trails from AllTrails.

It's an interesting castle. From here, you have a fantastic view of the countryside. Currently under construction, with scaffolding on some of the walls. No restaurant or kiosk was open.

Great! No one there. The restaurant and kiosk were closed. Otherwise, you could move around freely and look at everything.

Closed! They've been brought up especially to get some food. Updating opening hours is too much work for some people!

Short visit - unfortunately the owner was not at home 😂

highly recommended, has been very well restored.

A small but beautiful place for a day trip. We hiked from Eberstadt to the castle. A beautiful trail with a great destination. It's small but beautiful, and the view is truly amazing. You always have the option of taking the regular (gravel) path or a dirt path. We chose the dirt path and loved it. The entire trail is marked with signs (with a blue castle) so you always stay on the right path.

Great experience to visit after a walk through the woods up the hill.

Beautiful excursion destination near Darmstadt with wonderful hiking trails

Very nice excursion You can drive almost to the castle. Parking 🅿️ is available. The entrance is remarkable. Unfortunately, the castle is currently being renovated... I think it might take a while... There is a small kiosk at the castle with food and drinks. You can also buy souvenirs, coins, and so-called 0€ notes. Part of the castle is also wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, not all of it... Otherwise, if you want, you can climb the tower and parts of the inner wall. I think it's a great experience for children. There are also nearby... not far away the Magnet 🧲 stones, just a few hundred meters to the left, a little hidden from the parking lot. Please don't forget good shoes 👞... Entry to the castle is free. There are also restrooms.

One of the most famous figures in Egypt and the Arab world is buried here.

Amazing! A very beautiful place full of interesting history. Although only the ruins of the castle remain, this further enhances the impression.

We went with our children and guests. It's great that there's parking 250 meters from the castle. We climbed up to the intact sections of the castle for free and explored them. It has a magnificent view. A must-see; add it to your list.

Very beautiful castle ruins with adjacent nature trail

Great castle with an excellent tour

Very neat place to explore. Going back again!

I loved this place. A must-see. Top-notch welcome. There's also a great and inexpensive refreshment bar.

It's so beautiful but it's not like another ancient place

An old castle complex with a restaurant offering fine dining. A fantastic view of the region. This was another destination for a bike tour. 👍

It's okay, but not a day-long activity. When I was there, you had time to look at the ruins in peace. But that's all there was to it. If you're passing by anyway, you should take it in, just for the history.

The castle is tiny. You can grab a coffee and a snack there, the prices are quite low, but the restrooms are a disaster – dirty and stinking.

Very nice castle and great food

Very charming castle ruin. Currently under renovation, but still fun to see. You can climb stairs to the tower and wall. Partially wheelchair accessible with assistance.

Ideal spot to look beyond the years... you can look over a large area from here and all the domain Frankenstein castle offered. There are beautiful trails around the area to hike as well. Also, there is a nice café you can enjoy after a long day.

This place is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's not like Google information. Even if it was closed, you can enter the castle, but the restaurant was closed, so I almost died of thirst. It's hard to walk the forest path to the castle, but the view is the best!

The ruins of the castle are very nice. Able to walk through & up through different levels. It appears they are repairing & stabilizing the outside of the castle, which is great to see.

Awesome! We visited on a workday and were literally the only ones! The restaurant is currently closed and is being renovated. There is a kiosk that is only open on Thursdays and weekends. The castle itself is also being renovated but there is still plenty to see. The view is also really amazing! You can see super far! You can go everywhere for free. The winding road to it is also fun to drive.

I discovered this great castle through the Youtuber Bembelguy and went straight there. I really like this place.

Very nice authentic old building. You can see Frankfurt.

This was around March 2025 and they had a lot of construction going on. You have the option to either hike all the way to the top (not sure how long it is) or you can do as I did - drive up there. That saved the energy to walk around and explore the grounds. Beautiful view - absolutely stunning! If you are in Darmstadt, you have to pay a visit.

Nice place to walk, fresh air, a small castle on the mountain and free entry, a restaurant with a beautiful view.

Very nice view, kiosk excellent when it is open.

Simply beautiful, and perfect for a family photoshoot or a wedding shoot 📸🥰 Instagram leonardo__photographie_

The castle ruins are being renovated but you can still get a good idea of how it looked. The restaurant was closed, but there was a drinks and ice cream kiosk. A nice short walk of around the castle, I think about 3 km. Definitely worth it, if you are in the area (off the A5 between Darmstadt and Seeheim) Entrance and parking is free of charge.

Beautiful castle, small, great walking trails, admission is free, a good place to enjoy a day with family and nature.

Old castles have a unique atmosphere and are exciting. Not only can you feel the history there, but you can also enjoy events and meals, making them the perfect place to visit with friends and family. They are also full of legends and stories, and have a slightly mysterious feel to them, making them a special experience that is different from ordinary sightseeing. The scenery surrounded by nature is also wonderful, and you can immerse yourself in history while taking a leisurely stroll. I recommend them when you want to get away from your daily life and experience a little adventure.

Great view, restaurant unfortunately closed due to restoration, kiosk is open

Hardly anything to see as it is a ruin. The view is nice.

The only disappointment was that the restaurant and gift shop were closed due to renovations. Otherwise, the view is gorgeous!

The owner of our apartment told us that the castle might be closed due to restoration work. These were desperately needed after years of strain from the annual Frankenstein Festival. With around 50,000 visitors per year, the walls started to lean! Fortunately, they are now busy repairing and strengthening it, in the hope that another festival can be organized in about four or five years. In any case, we were happy that the castle was open today. I actually expected a lot more tourists, but that wasn't too bad. Let's keep it that way!

It was just a really cool Halloween show.

Good description of the castle ruins, friendly woman at the checkout

Currently being renovated. But it looks great!

I deducted one point because the restaurant and kiosk were closed that day.

There are still noticeable at least 4 circles of castle defense. Exposed walls 1.5 meters thick +. Ruins in Germany are as always well repaired, now in 8/2024 3 and 4 circles of defensive walls pass through the wall. For the fact that there is no ticket office, it is a nice, clean, undamaged place. Toilets cleaner than at home :-). Not here. Not many people in the evening. You can get here by car, and scooter, on foot, maybe even by car and a wheelchair user with strong arms or an escort can probably get here too. There are no stairs in the middle. There is no drinking water on the way to the castle, only at the top (maybe not in winter), so count on that in advance.

This castle was decent to travel to and check out. It was only 50 minutes away and was worth the short drive. The views were pretty cool and the sound of nature around the castle was nice. The castle is free so no need to purchase anything. Just stop by and give it a look

A wonderful place to relax - quiet, romantic, with hospitable hosts! 👌

The castle was too small for a long journey. But nice to look at.

This castle is the center of Frankenstein history. On the castle, you have a really good view on the horizon and you can even see Frankfort

Many paths lead up here, my favorite way is to go up the ladder to heaven. Upstairs is currently being renovated, but the nice kiosk is open and half of the sunny terrace.

You can have a look, old castle ruins with free entry and a small kiosk, parking

Frankenstein Castle is a very nice place to take a break or go for a nice hike. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed when I was there, but I was still able to enjoy a gigantic view from the terrace.

As an old ruin could be interesting, but the trash all around made the visit sad.

Nice place, still missing to finish

Also worth seeing in winter, but currently 2025 construction sites on site. The restaurant is closed, but the kiosk is open.

Frankenstein, who wouldn't want to see that castle.

A ruin castle with a nice view right at the top of the tower. Everything else is normal looking. Nonetheless as it’s Frankenstein castle. You have to visit for bragging rights 😃

A fantastic view, a really great place. A terrace that is worth lingering on. Celebrating an event there, a wedding for example, is really ideal. Especially since the registry office is upstairs too.

Almost in complete disarray. Unimpressive, but still Kool, just because it's the actual place.

Stunning ruins. We arrived on a quiet Monday morning, and the whole mountain was coated in fog. The castle was quiet and empty, aside from us, and it was incredible to explore. We loved being able to walk up and look out from the different towers. There was some restoration in progress when we visited, so we weren't able to walk around everything, but I think it'll be incredible to visit when it's finished.

Great afternoon with full meal and ambience is spectacular 👌 Renisance festival is also very inspirational 👏 a wonderful experience several times over 😀

This castle is a lovely place to visit. You can park your car at the foot of the mountain and walk to the castle. At the top of the hill, you can have a good view of Frankfurt's skyline. By the way, there is a restaurant, but it is not open this season, and a shop where you can buy food, drink, and souvenirs.

Beautiful ruins of the inspiration for Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. The lore around this one is fun to look into. Build sometime before 1250! Lots to explore. Some things closed as under renovation, but still worth it!

An ancient castle with a wonderful panorama. There is free parking

Beautiful castle ruins. Good view and delicious cappuccino 👍

Interesting castle related to the book/movie Frankenstein. If not for the weather the view from the top could have been better. It must be beautiful on summer nights. There are a lot of trails nearby. Autumn leaves are beautiful!

Really cool ruins, with a great kiosk and delicious Rindswurst!

Beautiful old castle, currently being restored. Mega view. There is also food.

Had a great time during a previous trip around Halloween time!

Please rethink your food concept very quickly. Everyone is standing all over the place, people are being pushed forward, people are annoyed.

Beautiful castle, great as a day destination with children after a hike. A tower (the one on the wall) is accessible and you have a beautiful view towards Frankfurt and the Ried. A visit is worth it. There is a parking lot at the castle, and also a hiking parking lot at the foot of the mountain on the B426.

It's pretty spooky in the castle, OK for children, very nice staff, but there isn't a single seat on the entire site, so it's not good for those with walking problems or grandmas, it's a very long way from the shuttle bus to the castle, only card payment on the entire site, i.e. werkeinw has bad luck, eating and drinking etc. only with a card, cash-free zone. If you knew beforehand it would be helpful.

Frankenstein Castle is always worth a visit, especially by bike

The castle is certainly beautiful during the day. However, we enjoyed the spooky Halloween nights at Frankenstein Castle every year.

Always a very nice place. You can watch the sunset from here.

Interesting castle on the top of a hill. There are some legends around it which apparently gave the base for the Mary Shelley 's book.

Nice and quiet =peaceful 2924🇩🇪

Nice view. Wondering what it will look like after the renovation.

Very nice!!! It's worth going there.

The castle is closed for renovation - hikers and cyclists can enjoy nature in peace with self-catering

So much fun! We went on kid day during Halloween. Amazing time!

We read on Google that the castle is open and working and we went. When we arrived we found everything closed. We are very disappointed. There were many cars parked in the parking lot and many disappointed people. Why are you misleading people, write that you are not working.

Frankenstein Castle. So many legends and stories in one place. I recommend

Very suitable for a nice Sunday trip. There is a lot for children to discover around the castle. Otherwise there are various well-signposted hiking trails.

Our friends live below the castle 😉

It's a very nice hiking trail, but come early as they close early.

Closed!!!!!! Nothing on the internet says it’s closed. Checked its website, the onsite restaurant’s website, and Google. A lady that seemed to work there informed us it was closed for renovations with no reopen date. We were able to walk around the entire outside of the castle on trails that circle the grounds. There were also lots of other trails but we had kids so we didn’t do too much hiking. There is also a cute herb garden by the restaurant we were able to walk through on our way around the outside of the castle.

Die Burg Frankenstein steht auf einem 370 Meter hohen, felsigen Gipfel des nach ihr benannten Massivs. Erstmals erwähnt wurde sie im Jahre 1252 in einer Urkunde Konrads II. Reiz von Breuberg und seiner Ehefrau Elisabeth. Aus dieser Urkunde geht hervor, dass die Burg zu dieser Zeit bereits stand. Ihre genaue Entstehungszeit ist also unbekannt. Die meisten Historiker gehen aber von ca. 1240 aus. Die Frankensteiner stellten in der Folge die Herren mehrerer Orte in der Umgebung. Spätestens 1292 erklärten sie sich zu Burgmannen der Grafen von Katzenelnbogen. Im Zuge dessen räumten sie diesen unbeschränkten Zutritt zur Burg und Unterstützung im Kriegsfall ein. Zu einem solchen Fall kam es aber nie, die Burg ist nie belagert worden. 1402 wurde Frankenstein dann Reichslehen. Als sich bereits zuvor, im 14. Jahrhundert, das Frankensteiner Geschlecht in zwei Linien spaltete, wurde Frankenstein zur Ganerbenburg. Andauernde rechtliche Auseinandersetzungen zwischen den beiden Linien waren die Folge. Um 1400 wurde die zu klein gewordene Burg dann um eine große Vorburg erweitert und dabei modernisiert. Auch das 16. Jahrhundert war durch eine rege Bautätigkeit geprägt. Die Anlage erreichte damals ihre heutigen Ausmaße. Im Zuge von Konflikten der Frankensteiner mit den hessischen Landgrafen verkaufte man 1662 Burg und Territorium schließlich für 109.000 Gulden an Hessen-Darmstadt. Den Landgrafen aber war es weniger um die Burg als um den Territorialbesitz gegangen. Daher verfiel die Burg in den folgenden Jahren zusehends. Im 18. Jahrhundert sorgten Gerüchte von verborgenen Schätzen für erhebliche Zerstörungen. Und die Ehefrau des damaligen Burgverwalters machte schließlich alles zu Geld machte, was nicht niet- und nagelfest war. Zu allem Übel nutzen auch noch die Bauern der Nachbardörfer die Burg als billigen Steinbruch. Erst Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts ließ Großherzog Ludwig III. die Burg dann im Zuge der Burgenromantik wieder restaurieren. Dabei ging man jedoch sehr unhistorisch und rücksichtslos vor und zerstörte mehr als man aufbaute. Im 20. Jahrhundert schließlich wurde die Burg ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel. Das hatte zur Folge, dass man in den 1960ern ein grauenvolles Restaurantgebäude auf dem Gelände errichtete. Ihre Berühmtheit verdankt die Burg Frankenstein unter anderem der Geschichte, dass sie als Inspiration und Namensgeber für Mary Shelleys Buch "Frankenstein oder der moderne Prometheus" gedient habe. Eine Verbindung Shelleys mit der Burg wird allerdings angezweifelt. Die Burg (oder überhaupt eine Burg) wird im Roman nicht erwähnt, die Geschichte spielt (unter anderem) in Ingolstadt, und Viktor Frankenstein stammt aus der Schweiz. Da das Ehepaar Shelley auf einer Reise nach Genf aber durch das Rheintal kam, wird gern vermutet, dass die Schriftstellerin den Namen der Burg hörte und für ihr Buch übernahm.

Schade, aktuell kein Zugang, viele Wanderwege near by.

Road to castle is better than the building it self

Leider geschlossen für die nächste Jahre (!!) Wegen Renovierungsarbeiten.

Schöne Burg mit tollem Ausblick und mittelmäßigen Restaurant. Gutes Wanderziel mit guter Luft und vielen Waldwegen die auch sehr gut zum Mountainbike fahren geeignet sind.

The restaurant is now closed Dec 2023!!! Used to have great views of thw Valley.

Wir waren zu Halloween auf der Burg. Super toll gemacht. Aber auch ohne Halloween ein Besuch wert. Die Aussicht ist genial.

Sehr schöne Location und tolle Aussicht

Wir waren zu Halloween dort. Das vorerst letzte Mal in dieser Burg, da sie wohl saniert wird. Hoffe das diese Veranstaltung in naher Zukunft wieder dort ihren Platz finden wird. Hat tradition!!

Gut organisiert, sehr gutes Halloween Feeling

We drove for 2 hours to the castle. They did not mention that they were closed due to Halloween activities 10 days prior. Only when we and other tourists arrived at THE GATE were we informed.