The ancestral family seat of the Hohenzollerns is perched majestically on a rounded mountain top somewhat detached from the main massif of the Schwäbische Alb. The castle, with its striking silhouette of many spires and towers and surrounded by its mighty fortifications, is one of the most impressive edifices of its kind in the whole of Europe. The stately rooms inside the building, most of which was rebuilt in the course of the 19th century, house noteworthy works of art and memorabilia illustrating the history of the Prussian kings and German emperors. The castle, which is still privately owned by the Hohenzollern family, is the venue for all sorts of exhibitions, concerts and other organised cultural events, making it a worthwhile destination whatever the time of the year.