The Stein castle ruins in Altmannstein are located on a mountain tongue east of Altmannstein. The castle was protected from the hinterland by a visible section ditch, on the other sides by the steeply sloping rock. The well-preserved round donjon with 2 meter thick walls made of humpback ashlars dates from the early 13th century.
Only remnants of the former residential building are left. A little below the actual castle is the late medieval so-called hunger tower, which connected the castle with the market fortification with the partially preserved side walls.
After the extinction of the lords of Stein, named since 1108, the Altmannstein lordship fell in 1232 to Altmann II von Abensberg, who was related by marriage and who built the castle and after whom the place was named "Altmannstein". His grandson Ulrich II sold the castle in 1291 to Duke Ludwig of Bavaria, who later became Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria.
(taken from the Altmannstein website)

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Börnie

April 3, 2021

Magnificent valley view. Definitely worth a detour. Accessible between April and October from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Staufer

October 20, 2025

Altmannstein Castle Ruins

The Lords of Stein are mentioned in documents as early as the 12th century, but due to the frequency of this place name in this area, concrete conclusions are difficult to draw. The castle was built and named after Count Altmann II of Abensberg in 1232. His grandson Ulrich II sold the castle in 1291 to Duke Ludwig of Bavaria, the later emperor.

From 1340 onwards, it was pawned, first to the Hautzendorf family, then again to the previous owners from Abensberg. In 1446, the Nurembergers conquered the castle during their campaign against the robber barons of the Regensburg region. The last Count of Abensberg, Niclas, was caught between the warring Wittelsbachs and was murdered in 1485 on the orders of the Bavarian Duke Christopher the Strong of Bavaria-Munich. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was destroyed by the Swedes in 1632, and it has remained in ruins ever since. In 1911, the architect Georg Wirth acquired the ruins and had a historicist residential building built there – typical of the period. In 1991, the complex was extensively renovated by the municipality.

Today, the complex is entered via a wooden bridge that leads to the outer bailey. Its entrance area is covered by buildings from 1911, intended to create a historic impression, but originating from the castle romanticism of the turn of the century. Behind it lies the most impressive part of the castle: the mighty keep, made of 18 m high, made of humped ashlars. Its walls are 3 m thick, and the entrance is 4.5 m high. It protected the access area to the inner bailey. Unfortunately, the tower is not accessible.

Behind it is the palace, built of ashlars and rubble. The mix of building stones suggests a later construction using stones from an earlier building. A few remnants of defensive and moat walls also remain. The unusual location of a rectangular tower made of rubble stone outside the castle at the foot of the castle rock is unusual. It was probably part of a later wall connecting the town.

Source: Burgenseite.de

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Location: Altmannstein, Landkreis Eichstätt, Altmühltal, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany

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