Stein Castle, Medieval castle in Hartenstein, Germany

Stein Castle, also called Schloss Stein, stands on a hornblende rock on the southern bank of the Zwickauer Mulde. Its upper ward has a round bergfried about 50 metres high with a high entrance at mid-height, a palas with a steep roof, and defensive walls. The lower ward's southwest corner tower is 32 metres tall and has a pointed conical roof.

Construction of the upper ward began around 1200 on a hornblende rock above the Zwickauer Mulde, probably as an outer fortification of Hartenstein Castle. The lower ward's pointed round tower may date to the 14th century, with other parts added at the end of the 15th century. In 1701/1702 the Barony of Stein became independent and the castle became a lordly residence. A fire destroyed the lower ward in 1732; it was partially rebuilt and renovated in 1846.

The castle displays objects from the lives of Saxon noble families and tells stories about the region around the Zwickauer Mulde River. The exhibition shows how residents lived here and what role the estate played in local society.

The castle has housed a castle and local history museum since 1954, and parts of the site remain open to the public. The lower ward's newer wing once served as a convalescent home. The upper ward is reached from the lower ward, whose 32-metre southwest corner tower rises beside the Mulde.

The castle was the site of a famous kidnapping in 1455 when the knight Kunz von Kaufungen captured the Saxon princes Ernest and Albert during a power conflict. This event significantly influenced the power struggles of Saxon nobility at the time.