Hotel Schloss Weitenburg

The Schloss Weitenburg, dating back to the 11th century, is superbly positioned in the rolling, wooded hills south of Stuttgart. The castle has been in the von Rassler family since 1720 and the present Baron von Rassler still lives there. Once within the castle, you are thrust back to days gone by: small windows looking out through more than one- meter-thick walls, massive stone floors, beamed ceilings, hunting trophies, and ancestors watching your every move from portraits on the walls. The dining room was formerly the kitchen, as evidenced by the enormous metal flue in the ceiling. The bedrooms are scattered throughout the maze of hallways. Some are quite mediocre in decor with modern furnishings, but others have a marvelous antique flair. I especially like number 104, a paneled corner room with antique furniture and an exquisite panorama of rolling forest and the meandering Neckar River. Other favorites are numbers 106 and 112, both bright and cheerful rooms overlooking the front courtyard. Number 102 stands out for its gorgeous views. The golf course is said to be one of the most beautiful in southern Germany. Note: Weitenburg is not on most maps, but is easy to find.