Discover Altensteig

Altensteig combines architectural history, a protected old town and a museum in the Old Castle. The castle stands high above the old town; the entire old-town ensemble is part of the German Timber-Frame Road. There are also numerous hiking trails around Altensteig. This gives you a choice of different priorities when planning your trip: culture or outdoor activities.

Castle and protected old town

The Old Castle took shape in its current basic form as a defensive structure from around 1230. Its flanking towers are called Heaven and Hell. These details bring the building’s history to life: both the approximate date of its construction and the towers’ distinctive names are memorable. The castle above the old town and the protected ensemble offer two connected perspectives on Altensteig—the history of the defensive structure and the historic townscape.

The old town is protected as a complete ensemble and is part of the German Timber-Frame Road. Anyone interested in timber framing and historic townscapes will find more than just a single building in Altensteig: the town center offers a distinctive perspective of its own. The castle’s history and the old-town ensemble provide different ways to discover the town’s culture.

Discover the Museum in the Old Castle

The Old Castle houses a local history museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of the region. Its topics range from archaeological finds from the Nagold valley to everyday objects. Items on display include a kitchen, toys, furniture, tools and weapons. The exhibition thus brings together traces of earlier times and objects from daily life.

The exhibition also introduces typical Black Forest trades, including Teuchel pipe makers and shingle makers. Another focus is Auerhahn’s historic silverware production: original workbenches, tools and cutlery illustrate the history of production. Archaeology, everyday objects, trades and production each offer a distinct perspective on regional history.

If you plan to visit the museum, check the latest visitor information before setting out. Parking is available near the museum; it is also worth checking local information about parking before your arrival.

Culture or hiking trails?

Altensteig is on the Heinrich Schickhardt Cultural Route. There are also numerous hiking trails around the town. This gives you different options: you can focus on the town’s cultural heritage or plan your trip more around hiking. Deciding which of these perspectives matters more to you can be a helpful first step in planning.

If you mainly want to visit the museum and old town, your research will focus on different things than it would for a stay centered on hiking. Parking near the museum may also be useful if you plan to visit this attraction.

More to explore in the wider Calw destination

The wider Calw destination offers further, distinct points of interest. In Nagold, the ruins of Hohennagold Castle on Castle Hill still contain the foundations of various buildings in the castle’s inner bailey, dating from the 12th century. Schömberg offers something different with its barefoot park: the trail is about 800 meters long and features more than 20 different materials. Since the park operates seasonally, check its opening times in advance.

Haiterbach also offers its own nature-focused experience. The nature trail teaches children about trees and their leaves, as well as the geology of the quarry. At the long jump for animals, visitors can compare how far different animals can jump. These examples in Nagold, Schömberg and Haiterbach add further themes to the cultural and hiking interests offered by Altensteig itself, all within the wider Calw destination.

When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide on your preferred focus first: the castle, old town and museum in Altensteig; the hiking trails around town; or additional interests in other places within the wider Calw destination. You can then choose potential destinations based on the experiences that matter to your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ebhausen, Unterreichenbach, Haiterbach, Bad Wildbad, Bad Teinach-Zavelstein, Althengstett, Schömberg, Simmersfeld.

Back to the main travel overview: Calw.