Frankenstein Castle — Attraction in Mühltal

From the town of Gernsheim, on the eastern banks of a languorous meander in the Rhine, it was once possible to see the steep slate roof and towers of Frankenstein castle, positioned on a hilltop 10 miles away. In 1814, a few days after her 17th birthday, Mary Shelley very likely gazed up at the fortress during the several hours her party spent resting in the town. She and her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley eloped to France and Switzerland but overspent and were returning to England by riverboat through Germany. During their three-hour stop at Gernsheim, it’s unlikely they climbed up to the summit, but it is possible that she heard grisly tales of the alchemist and physician Johann Konrad Dippel, who was born in the castle. Dippel invented an animal oil that he claimed was a universal medicine and theorized about transferring souls between dead bodies with the aid of a funnel. [Read about Dracula's castle in Transylvania.] While there is little substantiated proof that Dippel inspired the novel, the coincidences are spooky. In contrast, Shelley’s social milieu does include a connection to Benjamin Franklin, whose experiments with electricity are a likely inspiration for the animating process that brings the monster to life. The connection to anatomist Erasmus Darwin is the most certain of all, as he is cited as affirming that the events of the Gothic tale are “not of impossible occurrence” in the introduction to the original version of the novel, published 200 years ago this year.

Visit the castle today, a short drive south of Frankfurt, and you can climb the tower and dine on a patio, both with a view of the valley below. Get ready for the kind of warmhearted companionship that the novel’s monster yearned for. The menu is kid friendly, with vegan options and a nonalcoholic version of their signature Frankensteiner cocktail, which will help make sure you can navigate back down the winding road. Be sure to peek into the chapel where you might see a kindhearted bride.

If you're in the mood for murder and mayhem that the monster unfurled on the world once it spurned him, head downstairs to the dinner theater where you can catch German-language productions featuring criminals and monsters including, of course, the experiments of Dr....

We came on a July weekday afternoon with our three kids ages 5,3, and 1.5 years. The parking lot was easily found and the path to the castle was marked, only a 5 minute walk at toddler pace down some steps and then up a paved road to the castle entrance. I’m sure a stroller would have been fine if we had walked only on the road, but wouldn’t have worked once inside the castle. Once there, you walk into a courtyard that has a gift shop, restaurant, bathrooms, chapel you can visit, and the entrance to the actual castle on the right with a donation box for coins. You walk through a gate underneath a tower visitors don’t have access to climb. There isn’t actually much to explore aside from a small amount of ruin rooms and a different enclosed tower with nice views. On top of that, there was a stage set up and wires and lighting EVERYWHERE, as well as litter and equipment and lots of other tripping hazards, unsightly views for photos, and blocked off areas. The whole thing took us about an hour, and we left feeling kind of disappointed. I think his castle is better suited for events than for exploring, but I bet it is amazing for concerts and Halloween events. The man at the gift shop didn’t speak English but was very nice. The restaurant has a huge amount of seating and a better ambiance than the ruin itself, though we didn’t eat there. I’m glad we went but I’m not sure I’d recommend it unless going specifically to eat at the restaurant or...

Went here for Halloween. They have this function every year for 2 weeks. The whole ruin is decorted for Halloween, and turned into a huge outdoor haunted house. This is my second time coming, and it gets bigger every year. This is definitely a must for Halloween fans. You can purchase tickets online, and it is worth the extra 6 euro for the fast lane. This gets you to the front of the bus line, and the front of the security line. Be prepared, as the actors can “touch” you unlike in the states. You will possibly be grabbed and put in a cage or box. It is great for older kids, but they do a “light” version on Sundays for the younger kids. This was started by US military members back in the 70’s, but has grown into a huge thing. If you want to come on Halloween day, I suggest you purchase tickets well in advance, as it sells out quickly. Food and drinks are also available for a very reasonable price. If you want to spend the extra, you can get VIP which gets you a Buffett, and saved table for the night. If you plan on coming, be aware that you have to park in town, and take a 15 minute bus ride...