When you think about the ultimate in Halloween experiences, obviously Frankenstein’s Castle is right up there near the top! We decided to do the tour during the day, mostly, because I am a big baby. I also hate the feeling of someone lurking in the dark with the intent to terrify me, especially if I am paying for it. 

What to Expect

The days are family friendly and the nights are more adult-oriented.

A Bit of History
Frankenstein Castle (or in German: Burg Frankenstein) is a hilltop castle overlooking the city of Darmstadt. This castle may have been an inspiration for Mary Shelley’s 1818 Gothic Novel Frankenstein. There is no definite proof that this is true…only that she traveled to the area prior to writing the novel.

In 1978, American Airmen from the 435th Transportation Squadron started an annual Halloween festival at the castle, which became one of the biggest Halloween festivals in Europe.

While it was not “scary” per se, it was definitely a little bit on the “creepy” side. I am convinced that the local talent (men dressed as various types of monsters) view this particular event as an opportunity to, let’s just say, exercise various degrees of public displays of affection.

My teen daughters and I became a source of amusement when we screamed and ran from these “monsters” as they (for lack of better words) groped us. Fortunately, my husband was with us and served as a bodyguard. I think he had reached his husband/father limit by the time we left.

Overall, it was good fun and we enjoyed the experience. As I said, we went during family friendly hours and there were many smaller kids there who seemed to have a great time running from monsters. The girls thought we were being dramatic and that this was an acceptable forum for the up close and personal contact. As a female over the age of puberty, I recommend that you be prepared for some inappropriate behavior. I can only imagine what the nighttime adult experience must have been!

How to Get There

Frankenstein Castle is located in Pfungstadt, in the district of Darmstadt. Pfungstadt is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes northeast of Kaiserslautern, 40 minutes southeast of Wiesbaden and 2 hours north of Stuttgart.  For train details, click on DB Bahn.

During the Halloween event, there is no parking at Burg Frankenstein due to limited space. A bus shuttle service is provided starting from Pfungstadt, Mainstrasse in the parking lots of Toom and Edeka. The shuttle leaves from there every 15 minutes to the castle and back. Look for signs reading “Halloween P+R”. Please check their website at Burg Frankenstein for more details such as hours and ticket prices. Adult Tickets cost €25.

Author’s Profile: Cheryl Koller is a native of Georgia. She is a DOD spouse, mom of 4 daughters (2 adults, 2 teens), thrill-seeker, avid traveler, and lover of food and wine. She is a self-proclaimed Freedom-Preneur and Blogger currently living in Ramstein with her family.

Featured Image Photo Credit: © Cheryl Koller