Altrathen Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Rathen, Germany.
Altrathen Castle is a castle set on a sandstone rock formation above the village of Rathen, in the Saxon Switzerland region of eastern Germany. The complex includes medieval stone walls, rooms carved directly into the rock, and a keep that rises above the surrounding treetops.
The castle was built in the medieval period as a fortification, likely to control the rocky paths and river routes through the Elbe valley below. In the late 1800s it was extensively rebuilt and converted into a hotel, which is the function it still holds today.
The village of Rathen, just below the castle, is known for its open-air theater built into the rock face, which draws visitors every summer. The castle sits within this setting and is part of a landscape that locals have used for recreation and tourism for generations.
The site sits on steep rock and can only be reached on foot, so sturdy shoes are a good idea before setting out. The upper levels of the complex offer the best views over the surrounding forest and the Elbe valley below.
The cellars of the castle were not constructed with stone blocks but carved into the soft sandstone, so the walls still show the marks left by the tools used to hollow them out. These rooms stay noticeably cooler than the outside air even on hot summer days.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
