Burghausen Castle is the longest castle in the world, measuring more than one kilometer. So there is enough space here between the battlements and towers to house various museums and galleries and to stage theater performances and concerts.

While "largest" can be measured by area or length, Burghausen Castle in Bavaria holds the high-fidelity title of the "world's longest castle" according to the Guinness Book of Records. Stretching over 1,051 meters (3,448 feet), it consists of six successive courtyards perched on a ridge above the Salzach River. However, if measuring by enclosed volume and floor area, the Heidelberg Castle or the Schloss Neuschwanstein are often cited, though Neuschwanstein is technically a "19th-century palace" rather than a medieval fortress. Another contender for "largest complex" is the Marienberg Fortress in Würzburg. For most travelers in 2026, Burghausen represents the pinnacle of German "XXL" castle architecture, offering a kilometer-long journey through medieval history that takes several hours to walk from the outer gates to the inner citadel. Its sheer linear scale makes it a unique landmark that stands apart from the more famous "fairytale" towers found elsewhere in the country.