Our Story
The Family Behind the Castles
Since 2004, we've been sharing the hidden treasures of Europe — one family at a time.
Where It All Began
From Füssen, With Love
Astrid Baur grew up in Füssen, a small Bavarian town where castles weren't tourist attractions — they were the neighborhood. She spent 15 years as a tour director for Globus, one of the world's largest tour operators, quickly becoming one of their top-rated guides. But she watched tourist buses rush past the places she'd known her whole life — thirty minutes, a photo, gone. In 2004, she decided to show an American couple what these places really meant. Not the tourist version. The real one.
“We can't offer you a fleet of buses or a call center with hold music. What we can offer: our personal phone number, our undivided attention, and the certainty that we'll remember your name the next time you call.”
Today, European Castles Tours is still a family business — no investors, no call center. Just Astrid and her son Alessandro. We've watched grandparents tear up as their grandchildren touched the same castle walls they dreamed about as kids. That's why we do this.
The Difference
What Sets Us Apart
01
Your Pace, Your Way
No rushing, no waiting for 40 strangers. Whether you prefer long castle walks or a leisurely afternoon with a view — we design around you, not the other way around.
02
Stories No Guidebook Knows
We grew up here. This is home. The hidden chapel behind the castle, the vineyard the tourists drive past, the innkeeper who remembers every guest — we know them all by name.
03
Nothing Left to Worry About
Transport, tickets, timing — handled. You won’t see an invoice with surprises, and you won’t spend your vacation staring at Google Maps.
04
You’ll Know Us by Name
And we’ll know yours. No call center, no ticket number. Just a family that takes this personally — because it is personal.
Meet the Family
Your Guides, Your Friends
“Every castle has a story that the guidebooks miss. That's the part I love sharing.”
Astrid
Founder
Before co-founding European Castles Tours, Astrid spent 15 years as a tour director for Globus, becoming one of their top-rated guides. Together with Alessandro and their handpicked team, she brings world-class expertise to intimate, personal tours — with a passion for art history, wine, and real conversation.
“I grew up hearing these stories at the dinner table. Now I get to tell them where they happened.”
Alessandro
Tour Director & CEO
Born in Füssen at the foot of Neuschwanstein, Alessandro grew up with castle stories as bedtime tales. A historian by training and a storyteller by nature, he and his carefully selected team of local guides have accompanied thousands of guests through Central Europe's most remarkable places.
Behind us stands a handpicked team of 15+ guides — historians, art lovers, and local experts — some of whom have been with us for over 15 years. Every guide is someone we'd trust with our own family.
Trusted & Recognized
ASTA Member
Viator Badge of Excellence
TripAdvisor 4.9★ · 272 Reviews
Est. 2004
94% Excellent Rating
Tell Us About Your Dream Trip
Celebrating a milestone? Anniversary, retirement, or simply the trip you've been promising yourself — no commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation about what's possible.