Altenhausen: Castle History and Horse Riding

Altenhausen combines a historic castle complex with horse-riding and leisure activities on site. Altenhausen Castle is a fortified castle first mentioned in 1162. The complex serves as a youth hostel and hotel; riding holidays and other leisure activities are also offered on the grounds. This lets you explore the castle’s architectural history and the activities at the same location during your trip.

The Castle Complex and Its Architectural History

The castle includes a circular inner bailey, a Renaissance residential building and a Neo-Gothic keep. An estate yard adjoins the complex: its Late Gothic, Baroque and historicist buildings stand on the medieval rampart. Both the different structures and the estate yard’s various architectural styles are therefore important to understanding the architecture. The complex cannot be reduced to a single building form or period: the fortified core, residential building, keep and structures on the rampart each represent different aspects of its historic character.

Hotel Stays and Horse-Riding Activities

The castle complex combines its functions as a youth hostel and hotel with riding holidays and other leisure activities. Horse-riding options vary by experience level and format: beginners can take riding lessons offered in groups or individually, while guided rides are for experienced riders. Lessons and rides are different options that you can include in your plans depending on your experience and interests. The riding facilities include more than 70 ponies, an indoor riding arena, an outdoor riding arena, and facilities for grooming and saddling.

Other Leisure Activities on the Grounds

The castle grounds include a free petting zoo as well as free sports and play facilities: volleyball, street basketball, football, table tennis, a playground and indoor table football. This means there are activities beyond horse riding available directly on the grounds. If you plan to take part in any of these activities, check the current availability of the facilities before your visit.

The Wider Travel Destination of Börde

Within the wider travel destination of Börde, the district stretches from the fertile Börde region in the south—Germany’s largest contiguous area of black earth soil—to the meadows and wetlands of the Drömling in the north. Wooded ridges and the Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide characterize the center of the district; the heath is associated with Europe’s largest contiguous linden forest. Places to visit in Börde district include churches, monasteries, palaces, castles, museums and historic architectural monuments. The Romanesque Road includes ten sites there.

The regional attractions also include the Ziegelei Hundisburg industrial heritage site, with its brickworks and technology museum. These include brick production using the hand-moulding method, a coarse ceramics workshop for shaping and pottery, a building materials workshop and a carpentry shop. The historic narrow-gauge railway offers a visitor ride of around two kilometres, passing historic kilns, a bucket-chain excavator and the former clay pit.

Discover more destinations: Loitsche-Heinrichsberg, Hohe Börde, Calvörde, Ingersleben, Schwaneberg, Colbitz, Niedere Börde, Sülzetal

Back to the wider travel guide: Börde.