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Burg Altena

Castles & palaces ·Altena ·Open now
4.77.3K
Most reviewed in Altena
  • Ideal for kids, teens, friends

Erwachsene EUR 4.80

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About

Burg Altena is a medieval hill castle above the Lenne in Altena, with a permanent exhibition about the history of the Märkisches Sauerland.

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Burg Altena — The castle’s long stone walls and towers above a wooded slope

Burg Altena — The castle’s long stone walls and towers above a wooded slopeBurg Altena — Burg Altena’s towers and stone buildings seen from belowBurg Altena — The castle’s golden towers and walls above green treesBurg Altena — Burg Altena’s stone buildings and towers framed by summer greeneryBurg Altena — The castle seen across the wooded hillside in autumn colorsBurg Altena — Burg Altena nestled among bright autumn treesBurg Altena — The castle’s towers and walls beside a curving hillside pathBurg Altena — A round castle tower above the old town streetBurg Altena — The castle’s stone Pallas building viewed from the courtyardBurg Altena — Burg Altena’s towers and walls against a clear winter skyBurg Altena — The castle entrance gate framed by trees and stone walls

What's on here

Puppentheater-Tage auf Burg Altena Puppentheater-Tage auf Burg Altena Until 8 Nov Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Friday · All day2 EUR Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Saturday · All day2 EUR Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Winter-Spektakulum Burg Altena Sunday · All day2 EUR Lichterführung für Kinder zu Nikolaus um die Burg Altena 2026 Lichterführung für Kinder zu Nikolaus um die Burg Altena 2026 Sunday · All day4 EUR

Why go

  • The original furnishings of the world’s first permanent youth hostel, founded here in 1914.
  • A 90-metre tunnel brings regional legends to life with multimedia installations and special effects.
  • The Bergfried lookout tower and its dark Angstloch dungeon, where a bishop tells of imprisonment.
  • A replica karst cave with a real cave bear skeleton in the Kommandantenhaus.

Plan your visit

Prices

ErwachseneEUR 4.80

From the venue's website · checked 4 Nov 2026

Opening hours

Today11:00 – 18:00Show all
MondayClosed
Tuesday09:30 – 17:00
Wednesday09:30 – 17:00
Thursday09:30 – 17:00
Friday09:30 – 17:00
Saturday11:00 – 18:00
Sunday11:00 – 18:00

Don't miss

  • Joachim Böhmer’s muralA large hall mural drawing on medieval models from several eras of knighthood.The castle’s large hall.

Know before you go

  • Adult admission is €4.80.

What's inside

  • The chapel building displays the lives of the castle’s lords and ladies, medieval luxury, hunting, weapons and armour.
  • A damp prison beneath the chapel explores torture, executioners, witch persecution and secret courts.
  • The former youth hostel display includes boys’ and girls’ dormitories and two common rooms.

Tips for your visit

  • Your castle admission ticket also covers the Deutsche Drahtmuseum, a few hundred metres away.

Best time to visit

  • The castle is open Tuesday to Friday, 09:30–17:00, and Saturday and Sunday, 11:00–18:00.

With kids

  • A room lets children dress up as knights.

Interesting facts2

1/2
  1. 2007

    The castle was designated a monument of national significance in 2007.

    Burg Altena - Wikipedia
  2. 1934

    The current youth hostel opened in the lower castle courtyard in 1934.

    Altena Castle - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

  1. early 12th c.The early Counts of Berg built the castle.
  2. after 1198The Counts of Altena made Mark Castle their main residence and took the title Counts of the Mark.
  3. 1392The castle became the county bailiff’s sole residence.
  4. 1455A fire destroyed the castle; it was only partly rebuilt.
  5. 1766–1811A criminal court and prison occupied the castle.
Show all
  1. 1771Prussian forces used the castle as a garrison; it was sold to the town.
  2. until 1840An almshouse and workhouse operated in the castle.
  3. 1856–1906A hospital operated in the castle buildings.
  4. 1909Reconstruction began for the 300th anniversary of the County of Mark joining Brandenburg-Prussia.
  5. 1914Reconstruction was largely complete, except for the outer bailey and lower gatehouse. Richard Schirrmann founded the world’s first permanent youth hostel in the castle.
  6. 1918Final reconstruction work ended.
  7. 2016–2018The castle gates underwent extensive restoration.

Tours and audio guides

Guided tours for families
Available

How to get there

  • On footCastle address: Fritz-Thomee-Str. 80, Altena. The lift approach is on Lennestraße.
  • Cable carThe courtyard can be reached by the adventure lift from the foot of Klusenberg or on a hike.

Accessibility

  • Visitor lift Reaches the castle courtyard.

Sources: Altena Castle - Wikipedia · Burg Altena & Erlebnisaufzug - Burg Altena & Er… · Besucherinformationen - Burg Altena & Erlebnisa… · Deutsches Drahtmuseum - Burg Altena & Erlebnisa… · Burg Altena - Wikipedia · Château d'Altena - Wikipedia · checked 11 Oct 2026

Where
Fritz-Thomee-Str. 80, Altena -

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Why is Burg Altena called Altena?

According to local legend, the brothers first called their castle Wulfeshagen; it was later named Altena.

What does Burg Altena’s lift time tunnel cover?

Six stops cover 900 years of castle history.

What happened to Burg Altena in 1842?

The town gave its shares in the castle to King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who planned a public park around it.

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