Attraction · Mühltal · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Burg Frankenstein in Mühltal

Burg Frankenstein is an attraction in Mühltal, Hesse. This place has a story in the app. Within 480 m you'll find a public toilet, a bench and a water point.

Directions in Google Maps

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Story · Burg Frankenstein

You're standing at Frankenstein Castle, high on a hilltop at the edge of the Odenwald, about 370 metres up. Look down for a moment: that's Darmstadt below you. And yes, that name. Frankenstein sounds like a horror story, but it simply means 'stone of the Franks'. It refers to the rock the castle sits on, and around here it's a pretty ordinary name for a castle.

Read the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Opening hours: sunrise-sunset
Admission: Free
Wheelchair: Partly accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

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Photo: Twine333 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Burg Frankenstein in Mühltal: a castle with a spooky story

Burg Frankenstein stands on a hill on the edge of the Odenwald, at about 370 metres above sea level. Its name sounds like a ghost story, and what you find here fits that. Johann Konrad Dippel was born here in 1673. He made an animal oil that was supposed to be an elixir of life, and rumour has it that he dug up corpses to experiment with. Some people think the writer Mary Shelley heard about him before she wrote her novel, but this has never been proven. There is also a large Halloween festival. You will find the castle in Mühltal in Hessen, with the city of Darmstadt just below you.

What you can see at Burg Frankenstein

You can wander freely between the walls, the towers and the chapel. The towers look wonderfully medieval, but they were restored in the mid-nineteenth century and are not entirely historically accurate. The chapel is still in use. Since 2000 it has served as the wedding hall of the municipality of Mühltal, so with a bit of luck you might see a bridal couple here. There is also a crypt. Beneath the towers you will find a restaurant with a sunny terrace, a pleasant spot to sit for a while before carrying on.

Burg Frankenstein's history

Konrad Reiz von Breuberg built the castle before 1250, after which he called himself von Frankenstein. In the late medieval period the fortress was considered almost impregnable. The family fell out with the landgraves of Hessen-Darmstadt over religion. In 1662 the family sold everything. The castle then served for a time as a refuge and as a hospital. In the eighteenth century it fell into ruin.

Opening times, tickets and accessibility at Burg Frankenstein

Entry to the castle is free, so you don't need to buy a ticket, and you can visit the grounds whenever suits you. If you want to be sure what is open when, for example the restaurant or the chapel, check the official website at schloesser-hessen.de/de/burg-frankenstein. You will find the latest information there. Burg Frankenstein in Mühltal is partly accessible for wheelchair users, which means you cannot get everywhere. If you use a wheelchair or find walking difficult, check the website in advance to see what is possible for you. That way you will know beforehand which parts you can visit and won't be caught out by any surprises.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

Burg Frankenstein has a public toilet 29 metres away, near Ralphweg. It is free to use, wheelchair accessible and has a baby changing table. There are 2 public toilets within 500 metres in total. Benches are also found near Ralphweg: the closest one is 32 metres from Burg Frankenstein, and there are 17 benches within 500 metres. Drinking water is harder to find here. The nearest water point is 480 metres away, and it is also the only one within 500 metres. It is therefore worth filling your bottle before you walk up to the castle.

Facilities near Burg Frankenstein

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first.

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Photo: Aidexxx · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Burg Frankenstein located?

Burg Frankenstein is in Mühltal, high on a hill on the edge of the Odenwald at about 370 metres above sea level. From the castle you can look out over Darmstadt.

Why is it called Burg Frankenstein?

The name refers to the rock on which the castle stands. In this region, it is a very common name for a castle.

How much does it cost to visit Burg Frankenstein?

Entry is free. You only pay admission during the large Halloween festival.

Where is the nearest toilet to Burg Frankenstein?

The nearest public toilet is 29 metres away, at Ralphweg. It is free, wheelchair accessible and has a changing table. There are 2 public toilets within 500 metres.

Are there benches at Burg Frankenstein?

Yes, the nearest bench is 32 metres away, at Ralphweg. There are 17 benches within 500 metres.

Is there drinking water at Burg Frankenstein?

The nearest drinking water tap is 480 metres from the castle. It is the only drinking water tap within 500 metres.