Waldburg, Medieval castle in Waldburg, Germany.

Waldburg Castle is a hilltop castle on a drumlin at 772 metres above sea level, built from the 11th century and expanded in the 16th century into a palace-like residence. Its white plastered walls and steep red tile roofs form connected wings on the slope. A slender tower with a dark open bell frame rises near the left end, and a long white defensive wall with red coping wraps around the base.

The castle was built in the 12th century and served as a storage place for the Imperial Crown under Emperor Frederick II from 1220 to 1240. This period marked its peak importance as one of the realm's most significant strongholds.

The castle gave its name to the House of Waldburg, whose stewards held the hereditary Imperial Steward office from 1526. The castle chapel now hosts church weddings, and the Burgschenke inn, in the former imperial kitchen, serves dishes based on medieval recipes.

The castle is open to visitors from April through October, with guided tours available on weekends and holidays. Wear sturdy shoes and allow enough time to explore the different levels of the structure.

The museum displays a facsimile of Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 printed world map, the first on which the name America appears. The original was handed over by the Federal Republic of Germany to the Library of Congress in Washington in 2007. Replicas of the Holy Lance, the Imperial Sceptre and the Imperial Orb are also shown, and since 2013 a copy of the Imperial Crown.