Thanks to both private and state-backed initiatives, there are now more than 300 carefully preserved or restored castles throughout the state. Here's a sample of some of Hessen's most stunning castles.

According to the Brothers Grimm's fairytale, it is in this very castle, located in the heart of the Rheinhardswald between Kassel and Göttingen, that Sleeping Beauty fell in the arms of Morpheus after a spell was cast over her. You can even witness key scenes from the legendary fairytale performed live at the 670-year-old castle, as well as concerts. The former hunting seat is also a hotel, where you, too, can fall asleep in the mythical mansion. Guided tours of the castle and the surrounding gardens are offered from March to October.
Tel: 05671-80 80 www.sababurg.de

The spires of the Braunfels castle stand as an imposing reminder of the town's medieval history. This baroque castle is home to an extensive collection of artifacts from the period. In the summer, the castle hosts an international jousting festival. A team of international stunt men re-enacts the battle scenes and many sideline attractions contribute to transporting visitors back to the days of old. Tours in English or French can be booked by calling 06442-50 02 or online. Open daily from April to October, sporadically the rest of the year.
Tel: 06442-3030 www.schloss-braunfels.de

There is no better way to start a tour of the Rheingau vineyards than to visit Kloster Eberbach, where 12th century Cistercian monks began a tradition of winegrowing. The scene for the filming of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose in 1985, Kloster Eberbach is today the state administrative center for all of Hessen's vineyards. On every second or third Friday between April and December, you also get a wine-tasting session of six different wines as part of a guided tour of the cloister. But the oak barrels of the Eberbach cellar are not the only attraction here. A museum also gives insight into the winegrowing region, as well as medieval monastery life. The museum is open daily.
Tel: 06723-917 100 www.kloster-eberbach.de

Just four kilometers outside Bad Homburg, Saalburg is a painstakingly reconstructed Roman fort that was part of the 615-kilometer-long Limes – the wall of fortifications erected by the Romans from the Rhein to the Danube. Kaiser Wilhelm II excavated and reconstructed the site starting in 1898. The complex also includes a museum with original and reconstructed artifacts. Open daily from March to October, closed on Monday from November to February.
Tel: 06175-937 40 www.saalburgmuseum.de

For more information on castles in the area, please visit these websites:

• www.schloesser-hessen.de
• www.burgen-am-rhein.de