Discover Schönstein: Castle and History

The castle ruins make Schönstein a striking historical attraction. The late medieval castle’s founding is attributed to the Counts of Ziegenhain. Gilserberg also offers its own hiking and nature themes, which you can include in your travel plans according to your interests.

Schönstein Castle and its historical context

The castle was probably built between 1341 and 1350. Several metres of wall remains have survived from the complex, and an information board presents known historical details. This brings together the attributed founding, a probable construction period and surviving structural elements. The ruins offer a clear historical focus for anyone interested in history. In the Gilserberg destination, Schönstein Castle ruins are among the featured attractions.

Hiking and nature in the Gilserberg destination

Gilserberg is part of both Rotkäppchenland and Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park. The Gilserberg area offers opportunities for hiking and cycling along and within the Jeust and Kellerwald uplands. Alongside Schönstein’s historical focus, the Gilserberg destination also offers tours and a range of nature themes to explore.

The GeoPfad Schönau leads to rock remnants that were exposed by erosion and once belonged to Africa. The trail starts in the car park in front of the community centre in Gilserberg-Schönau. The first stop looks at the “journey” of the continents from which present-day Europe formed. Before setting off, it is advisable to check local conditions.

The Muschelkalkweg Winterscheid offers a different geological focus: this circular route, around five kilometres long, starts at the community centre in Winterscheid. Its information boards cover the Middle Triassic period, 244 to 235 million years ago, fossil organisms, historic limestone quarrying, and plant and animal species found today that depend on Muschelkalk limestone. The route also passes the listed “Trichterkalkofen” (funnel lime kiln) and former limestone quarries. Sections of the route run through the 43-hectare “Kalkkuppen bei Winterscheid” nature reserve. It protects particularly rare calcareous grasslands and orchid-beech forests.

The two trails also differ in the story they tell: the GeoPfad focuses on continental movements and rocks that once belonged to Africa, while the Muschelkalkweg centres on fossils, historic quarrying and species found today. You can choose according to which subject interests you more.

Another hiking option is to start a tour on the Hochlandsteig in any district of the municipality of Gilserberg. The Panorama-Rundweg Sachsenhausen offers a different geographical setting: most of it runs above the settlement of Sachsenhausen, which lies in a valley. The routes therefore differ both in the places they relate to and in where a hike can begin.

Which destinations suit your trip

If you are planning a family trip, you can sort the excursions by theme: castle history, continental movements, or Muschelkalk limestone and fossils. When choosing accommodation, it is also worth considering which destinations in Gilserberg you want to include. Schönau, Winterscheid and Sachsenhausen are specific locations associated with the trails described; take them into account if you are planning to visit several places.

For the general travel overview: Gilserberg.