Above Altensteig’s old town stands the Old Castle, which houses a local history museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of the region. There are also numerous hiking trails around Altensteig. The historic townscape, museum and hiking offer different perspectives on a stay in the town and its surroundings.
Old Town and Castle History
Altensteig’s old town is protected as a complete ensemble and is part of the German Timber-Frame Road. The Old Castle rises high above the old town. In its present basic form, it was built from around 1230 as a defensive fortification; its flanking towers are called “Heaven” and “Hell.” Altensteig is also on the Heinrich Schickhardt Cultural Route. The protected status describes the scale of the old town as a whole, while the construction date, defensive function and tower names focus attention on the castle. The two cultural routes highlight different aspects: half-timbered architecture and cultural history offer distinct points of reference for understanding Altensteig.
A Museum Offering Several Perspectives on Regional History
The local history museum in the Old Castle displays archaeological finds from the Nagold Valley and everyday objects, including a kitchen, toys, furniture, tools and weapons. It also presents traditional Black Forest occupations, including wooden water-pipe borers and shingle makers. Another focus is Auerhahn’s historic silverware production, illustrated with original workbenches, tools and cutlery. Different topics are presented side by side: finds from the Nagold Valley, everyday objects, occupations and the history of a specific industry. Those interested in regional history can shift their focus between archaeological finds, everyday life and work.
Plan Your Visit
Parking is available near the museum. Before travelling, check the museum’s access information and local parking conditions. This lets you clarify two practical points before your visit, whether you are mainly interested in the exhibition, the castle or the old town.
Make Cultural History or Hiking Trails Your Focus
There are two different focuses to choose from when planning your trip: the old town, castle and museum give your stay a cultural history focus, while the numerous hiking trails around Altensteig offer another reason to explore the surrounding area. Consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on the town’s history, plan some hikes, or make room for both. The wider destination of Calw offers other things to explore. In Nagold, the ruins of Hohennagold Castle on Nagold Castle Hill still contain the foundations of various buildings in the castle’s inner ward, dating from the 12th century. In Schömberg, the Barefoot Park offers a trail about 800 metres long with more than 20 different materials. These examples offer a different focus from the local history museum in Altensteig’s Old Castle; check the park’s seasonal opening dates before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Schömberg, Bad Wildbad, Haiterbach, Neuweiler, Oberreichenbach, Enzklösterle, Ostelsheim, Bad Teinach-Zavelstein
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