Altenstein Castle Ruins

There is an accessible tap on the wooden barrier - here you can fill up drinking bottles.
PLEASE TURN RIGHT AGAIN!

The Altenstein castle ruins are medieval castle ruins on a mountain spur above the Old Hainsbach valley.
The castle was built in the 12th century, destroyed in the Thirty Years' War and large parts of the remaining castle complex were blown up in 1973 to secure the border.
The existing remains of the castle walls and the cellars (actually locked, but there is a gate next to them) offer interesting views and photo opportunities.
If you drive around the castle ruins, you have a wonderful view of the valley.

Until 1945, the area around Altenstein Castle belonged to the Hessian state forest of Allendorf and then came to the Thuringian district of Eichsfeld as a result of the Wanfried Agreement through an exchange of territories. Until 1954 the castle was still used as a dwelling for the forester, after that for a few years as a children's holiday camp. In 1973 the castle complex was blown up as part of border security measures on the Inner German border. The area close to the border was no longer accessible to the population until the end of 1989.