In Germany’s Rhine Valley, several centuries-old castles sit just minutes from one another, and visiting them can be particularly enjoyable as the foliage changes color in the fall.

Rheinstein, Reichenstein and Sooneck are all well-kept, renovated buildings. Unlike at the many nearby castle ruins, visitors here can access lavishly decorated rooms and get a glimpse of what life was like at each location in the past.

I visited the sites — and a fourth castle called Stahleck, which now serves as a youth hostel — after learning that they’re all featured in a new mobile app meant to immerse users “in the world of legends in the Middle Rhine Valley.” 

Unfortunately, the Legendary Rhine Romance app worked intermittently during my visit. Still, the app, which is geared more toward children, was by no means necessary. There is more than enough on offer at the castles to keep both children and adults entertained for an afternoon without the need to look at phone screens.

Rheinstein Castle

Rheinstein is the southernmost castle of the group, located about 40 minutes from the Army’s garrison in Wiesbaden and less than an hour from the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Brochures dub it “the heart of Rhine romanticism,” as it was here in the 1800s that Prince Friedrich of Prussia rebuilt a fairy-tale castle on Rheinstein’s medieval ruins, sparking the reconstruction of other ruined castles in the region.

Admission is purchased in a gift shop that also sells play swords, knight and princess costumes, books with knight tales, quill pens and detailed castle guides for adults and children.

The main sights of the castle are spread over various levels, accessible by stone and cast-iron staircases.

Among the highlights are the Burgundy Garden, named after the more than 180-year-old grapes that grow there and still bear fruit; the Squire’s Hall, in which armor and metal weaponry are on display; and the Rhine Tower, which offers excellent views of the river and other parts of the castle complex below it.

Watching youngsters run around with plastic knight helmets and swords can be amusing, too.

Reichenstein Castle

Reichenstein Castle is only a minute’s drive up the river from Rheinstein. The original structure was built in the 11th century. But in 1898, Baron Nikolaus Kirsch-Puricelli, a wealthy industrialist who owned a nearby ironworks, rebuilt it. 

An informative audio guide tells the story of Reichenstein and the Kirsch-Puricelli family. Voice actors play certain family members.

The castle’s grounds are pleasant, but the standout feature is the indoor museum, which offers an insight into 19th-century high-end living on the Rhine.

There is plenty to look at inside, including more than 1,500 sets of antlers gracing the walls, the mark of several generations of hunters. A chandelier depicting a three-headed flying dragon uses one pair of moose antlers for wings.

A large dining room, which visitors can look into but not enter, has life-size black-and-white cutouts of former family members sitting around a table. The room has a slightly haunting feel.

Sooneck Castle

Sooneck Castle is an eight-minute drive up the Rhine from Reichenstein. Like Rheinstein, it has many outdoor staircases leading to various level of the complex.

First mentioned in a document in 1271, Sooneck was destroyed by French troops in 1689. In 1834, four Prussian princes bought the ruins and rebuilt on them.

There is less to see inside this castle than in the previous two, but it’s still worth a look. Visitors are asked to wear slippers over their shoes to protect the wood floors.

Sooneck probably has the best view of the Rhine River among the four castles. It’s also a favorite of children, who can pick up a booklet of puzzles at the gift shop that takes them on a treasure hunt around the grounds. There are prizes at the end.

Stahleck Castle

Stahleck Castle towers above the town of Bacharach. It was destroyed in the late 17th century and rebuilt in the 20th century.

The facade is beautiful, but there isn’t much else to see here, as it’s now a youth hostel.

The app worked best for me at Stahleck and told the story of a maiden who once upon a time would sing along the river and enchant travelers by boat, often causing them to crash.

Although Stahleck, which sits high up on a hill, may not be worth the effort for some travelers, especially those fatigued after visiting the three previous castles, the picturesque town of Bacharach shouldn’t be missed. It is teeming with bars and restaurants that can be the perfect place to unwind after a day of castle rambling.

On the QT

Directions: The castles span a roughly 7.5-mile distance along Rheinstrasse from Trechtingshausen to Bacharach.

Hours: Rheinstein, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; Reichenstein, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; Sooneck, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

Costs: Rheinstein, 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for children; Reichenstein, 9.50 euros for adults, 4 euros for children; Sooneck, 6 euros for adults, 4.50 euros for children.

Information: Online: burg-rheinstein.de; burg-reichenstein.com; burg-sooneck.com. The Sagenhafte Rheinromantik app is available in app stores.