Castles were built in the Middle Ages, so that a distinction must be made between imperial and state castles, aristocratic castles, religious castles and monastery castles. Often, in the early modern period (16th-18th century), a historic castle was replaced by a palace building. Castle and castle served the sovereign or nobility as a residential and government seat. Pleasure castles and country castles had more recreational purposes.
Few castles and palaces are now inhabited as a private possession of individual families. Often castle or castle hotels are furnished.
Castle Köln services
Castle hotels are often used for tourism, so that overnight stays, wellness trips, restaurant visits, café visits, museum visits etc. are possible. There are fortified churches, castle ruins, moated castles, flee castles, mountain castles, as well as city castles, country castles, pleasure palaces, residences, fortified churches, private castles, museum castles. Castle often houses a museum, café, restaurant, hotel (castle hotel), boarding house, youth hostel or conference venue.