Hohnstein Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Neustadt, Germany
Hohnstein Castle is a ruin of a medieval fortress standing on a wooded rocky hilltop at 403 meters elevation northeast of Neustadt in Thuringia. Below the fortress remains, a 1908 inn was restored and reopened in 2001 to serve visitors exploring the site.
Founded around 1120, Konrad von Sangerhausen built the fortress as the ancestral seat of the Counts of Hohnstein during the power struggle between the Hohenstaufen and Guelph dynasties. The castle was strategically important to the family's control of the surrounding area.
The name comes from the rocky hilltop where it stands, and the fortress once served as shelter for travelers crossing the region. Today you can see how the ruins and the restored inn reflect centuries of continuous use by local communities.
The walk to the ruins takes about 30 minutes from Neustadt on marked hiking trails. The surrounding area is excellent for longer walks, and the inn below the fortress provides rest and refreshment after exploring the site.
The fortress was for centuries a gathering place and market hub, making it an important local economic center. This role continues today through the inn, which attracts hikers and travelers in the same way it once welcomed merchants and locals.
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