Station: [7] Ancestral Hall

Welcome to the entrance hall of Hohenzollern Castle, known as the Ancestral Hall. 

Pause here for a moment and let your gaze wander over the walls. They are adorned with a painted family tree of the Hohenzollern dynasty. From the moment guests first enter the building, this room is intended to convey the family’s significance and power. It tells the family’s story at a glance and takes you through nearly a thousand years. 

The family tree begins on the front wall, to the right of the entrance. It starts there with the first documented mention of the dynasty in the 11th century. Shortly thereafter, it splits into two lines. On one hand, there is the Swabian line, shown in red. On the other, the Franconian line, shown in blue. The Brandenburg-Prussian line later emerged from this Franconian branch. This blue line continues on the adjacent wall to the right. It extends all the way up to the upper panels, where the Prussian kings, the German emperors, and their descendants are listed up to the present day. 

In the third panel, you can see one of the castle’s current lords: Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia. He is the head of the House of Hohenzollern. Since January 1, 2026, he has also been the sole owner of the castle. 

The red Swabian branch also continues along this wall. In the 16th century, it splits once more. At the top right, in the fourth panel, it ends with the current generation of the Swabian princely house. There you will find the second lord of the castle: Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern. 

To the left of that is the Romanian royal house, which also belongs to the House of Hohenzollern. 

Thus, the ancestral hall displays not only names and lineages; it also illustrates just how closely the castle remains connected to its family to this day. For nearly 1,000 years, Hohenzollern Castle has served as a temporary residence for the family. To them, the castle still embodies a piece of home.

That is why this castle is not a museum in the traditional sense. It is a place steeped in history and, at the same time, distinctly vibrant. 

As you walk through the large double doors, you’ll enter the banquet and dining hall.