The castle on the ridge above the old town began as a medieval fortress and was rebuilt as a Renaissance residence by the dukes of Württemberg in the 16th century. The huge gateway carved with the ducal coat of arms is one of the finest examples of Renaissance stone-carving in southern Germany.
Today the castle belongs to the university and houses the Museum of the University of Tübingen (MUT), with archaeological and ethnographic collections. The standout pieces are the Vogelherd horse and the Hohle Fels flute, both around 40,000 years old. The terraces of the castle give the best views over the rooftops of the old town and across the Neckar.