Keltenwall Altkönig

Keltenwall Altkönig is a Celtic fortified settlement on a hilltop near Kronberg im Taunus featuring two concentric oval-shaped defensive walls. The inner wall spans about 950 meters around its perimeter while the outer wall measures roughly 1,390 meters, together enclosing approximately 26 hectares.

The site dates to the early La Tène period around 400 BC, confirmed by excavations carried out in 1882 by Karl August von Cohausen who uncovered period artifacts. This era marked an important phase in Celtic development when such fortified hilltop settlements became common across Central Europe.

The name Altkönig refers to the "old king", a designation that emerged from local tradition and reflects the site's perceived importance. Today hikers still traverse the area and can trace how the fortification's layout shaped the hilltop landscape.

The site is accessible via marked hiking trails that lead visitors through the fortification and help them understand its layout and design. Informational signage placed along the routes explains how the defensive system worked and what life was like for the inhabitants.

The fortified area includes a specially designed section that protected a natural spring, which still flows today and was critical for the settlement's water supply. This spring reveals how the Celtic builders planned practical aspects of daily life into their fortification design.