Schloss Altensteig, Medieval castle in Altensteig, Germany

Schloss Altensteig consists of the Altes Schloss, whose residential tower rests on a sandstone base about 11 by 16 metres, topped in the 15th century by an Alemannic timber-framed storey, and the Neues Schloss, a timber-framed building on a stone plinth built from 1605 by Heinrich Schickhardt. A small courtyard lies between them, and a wall with a covered walkway and two towers once ran along the north side.

The castle was built in the Middle Ages as a defensive stronghold and long served as the region's administrative center. Over the centuries it evolved from a purely military fortress into a noble residence while maintaining its role as a center of local authority.

The castle now serves as a museum where visitors can explore how the local community lived and worked through exhibits showing regional crafts and daily traditions. The displays reveal the customs and skills that shaped life in this area over time.

The path to the castle climbs steeply uphill, so wear sturdy shoes and allow time for the walk. Benches and rest stops along the way offer breaks, and the view from above makes the effort worthwhile.

The two towers of the northern wall served as prisons: the western one, called "Himmel" (Heaven), had barred windows looking outside, while the eastern one, "Hölle" (Hell), held a 15-metre-deep dungeon. The names mark the contrast between the two cells.