Ice Age art and future labs, fairytale castles and industrial monuments, Celtic graves and hip-hop festivals: Baden-Württemberg combines history and the present in a density that is unparalleled in Europe. Between the Black Forest and Lake Constance, the Swabian Alb and the Stuttgart metropolitan region, a cultural area unfolds that surprises 365 days a year. What is new, what is beautifully old, what is extraordinarily staged? The answer is: everything – often all at once. This experience becomes particularly intense when the day comes to a close and monuments reveal their stories under the cover of night.
When the lights go out, a different story begins in the south. Castles, palaces, monasteries, and fortresses are transformed into stages of the imagination. Lanterns cast shadows, walls whisper memories, music and cuisine connect the past and the present. "Night in Monuments" invites you to not only view culture, but to experience it – sensually, surprisingly, and often with a wink.

Royal winter magic at Hohenzollern Castle
Bathed in the glow of twilight, the castle looks like something out of a fairy tale. The "Royal Winter Magic" is not just market romance, but an opulently designed special exhibition in the interior and exterior areas. Magnificently decorated rooms, a seven-meter-high Christmas tree in the Count's Hall, illuminations in the castle courtyard, and winter delights in the castle restaurant create an atmosphere of royal festivity—atmospheric, elegant, and timeless.

Medieval banquet at Waldburg Castle in Upper Swabia © Waldburg Castle

Medieval banquet with theatrical tour at Waldburg Castle
Torchlight, the clang of metal, and the aroma of a medieval feast: history comes to life at Waldburg Castle. A knight guides you through the thousand-year-old walls while an authentic four-course meal is served. Culinary delights, theater, and historical storytelling combine to create a four-hour experience that nourishes both the mind and the palate.

Dürnitz Night Call at the Old Palace in Stuttgart
When DJs fill the Dürnitz with sound and hidden rooms open up, the museum becomes a club stage. The "Dürnitz Night Call" combines drinks, electronic music, and exclusive tours of otherwise inaccessible areas. An evening for curious minds who want to dance through history—and for those who want to rediscover the Old Palace.

Night watchman tour at Heidelberg Castle
Armed with a pike and lantern, you will be guided through the dark splendor of the castle. The night watchman will take you back to the time of the Thirty Years' War, past legends, sieges, and figures from everyday life 400 years ago. Off the beaten track, history becomes a spine-tingling experience.

Night watchman tour at Heidelberg Castle © TMBW, Isabela Pacini

Stargazing at Hohenneuffen Fortress
High above the landscape, the view opens up into space. With mobile telescopes and expert guidance, the fortress becomes an observatory. Constellations, planets, and cosmic stories turn the night into a quiet, awe-inspiring adventure.

Open Airs at Salem Castle & Monastery
Music meets history under the open sky. The Salem Castle Open Airs combine international stars with the magical backdrop of the former Cistercian monastery. Jazz, pop, or rock—every evening here is a spine-tingling moment where past and present swing in time to the beat.
www.visit-bw.com/nachts-im-monument