Burg Hohenstein, Medieval castle in Taunus, Germany

Burg Hohenstein is a hilltop stone castle in the Taunus region, built with thick defensive walls, a central tower, and an inner courtyard. It sits on a rocky ridge above the Aartal valley, which is visible from the upper parts of the structure.

Burg Hohenstein was probably built between 1190 and 1230 by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, not by the Archbishopric of Mainz. From 1260 it served as the residence of the younger line of the counts, and around 1422 Count Johann III had it expanded. In 1647, during the Thirty Years' War, Hessian-Kassel troops set it on fire and severely damaged it.

The open-air stage in the inner courtyard hosts the Burgfestspiele Hohenstein, performed by the Taunusbühne Bad Schwalbach amateur theatre company. A civil registry office (Standesamt) is also housed in the castle, so weddings take place within the ruins. The name Hohenstein refers to the high rocky spur on which the castle stands.

Reaching the castle requires a short uphill walk on an uneven path, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. The trail can get slippery after rain, so it is worth checking the weather before heading out.

The castle was set on fire in 1647 by Hesse-Kassel troops during the Hesse War between the Kassel and Darmstadt lines, and it has been a ruin ever since. The last building plans date from 1608, so a drone-based laser survey was carried out in 2023 to prepare a full restoration.