Discover Altensteig

Altensteig combines a historic townscape with opportunities for culture and hiking. The Old Castle rises above the old town and houses a local history museum with a permanent exhibition on regional history. There are numerous hiking trails around Altensteig. You can tailor your stay to focus on local history, the museum or outdoor activities.

The Old Castle and its history

The Old Castle stands high above the old town. Its present-day basic form was built from around 1230 as a fortified complex. Its architectural features include the flanking towers “Himmel” and “Hölle.” The construction period, defensive function and tower names offer different ways to explore the complex: they place the castle in its historical context while also drawing attention to a specific architectural detail. This makes the castle a prominent point of reference for Altensteig’s history during a culture-focused stay.

Insights into regional history

The local history museum is housed in the Old Castle. Its permanent exhibition explores the region’s history and includes archaeological finds from the Nagold Valley. This means the exhibition focuses not only on the castle’s history but also on regional finds. The archaeological exhibits provide a distinct focus within the exhibition’s broad historical theme.

Other exhibition topics range from everyday domestic life to work and occupations. Everyday items on display include a kitchen, toys, furniture, tools and weapons. This selection brings together examples from the home with objects associated with work or protection. This perspective on regional history therefore differs from the castle’s architectural history.

Traditional Black Forest occupations are also presented, including Teuchel pipe boring and shingle making. A separate focus is the historic silverware production of Auerhahn. Original workbenches, tools and cutlery illustrate this production. Archaeology, everyday life, occupations and silverware making thus offer different thematic perspectives on the region’s history in the permanent exhibition.

The old town and cultural routes

The old town is protected as a complete ensemble and is part of the German Half-Timbered House Route. Altensteig is also on the Heinrich Schickhardt Cultural Route. These connections offer different ways of placing the town in context: ensemble protection applies to the old town as a whole, while the routes place Altensteig within a cultural context. Together with the Old Castle, they offer a layered perspective on local history and the historic townscape.

Hiking and practical information

There are numerous hiking trails around Altensteig for hiking enthusiasts. This offers a different focus from the castle and museum: the cultural and historical sites are concentrated at the Old Castle and in the old town, while the trails bring the surrounding area into your travel plans. You can therefore decide whether to focus on local history or include hiking in your stay as well.

Parking is available near the museum in the Old Castle. If you are planning a museum visit, check the latest access information before travelling. It is also advisable to check local parking conditions before setting out.

Hiking trails in the wider Calw destination

In the wider Calw destination, there are numerous well-signposted trails and routes in and around Calw where you can explore the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park on foot. This hiking information relates to Calw and complements the information about Altensteig as a destination in its own right.

Discover more destinations: Neubulach, Bad Wildbad, Schömberg, Unterreichenbach, Ostelsheim, Nagold, Wildberg, Dobel

Back to the wider travel overview: Calw.