Burg Altena

Burg Altena owes its international fame to the world’s first permanent youth hostel, which was inaugurated here in 1914. It has been preserved in its original condition as the World Youth Hostel Museum. Here, visitors can try out the original beds to experience how travelers slept more than 100 years ago.

Museum of the Grafschaft

Mark The main museum at the castle is the Museum of the Grafschaft Mark. The exhibition (link to 360° images) traces the region’s development from its geological prehistory through the Middle Ages, the early modern period, and the Industrial Age to the present day. Lavish displays allow visitors to experience the battles, hunts, and feasts of the knights and nobles. They also learn a great deal about the lives of farmers and artisans.

Burg

Altena

Experience

ElevatorSince spring 2014, the new experience elevator has provided barrier-free access from the valley floor of the town of Altena up to the upper castle courtyard. The Burg Altena Experience Elevator is “The New Gateway to the Castle”: it travels 90 meters into the mountain and 80 meters upward. Along the way, visitors can experience the region’s legends and stories up close at seven stations. When the elevator doors open again in the castle courtyard, the journey through the castle continues.

Group Tours and

Educational ProgramsA special offering at the castle includes group tours and educational programs. The offerings range from children’s birthday parties to themed tours. Particularly popular with children are the knighting ceremony “From Squire to Knight,” the “treasure hunt,” and the program featuring the witch Söckchen and the bat Fläd. Visitors are also welcome to explore the museum on their own. Visitors can also use a digital museum guide to navigate Burg Altena. The multimedia guide is available in German, English, and Dutch.

EventsBurg Altena offers an extensive program of events throughout the year. In addition to major festivals like Anno Tuck on the first weekend in August, it’s also worth attending smaller events such as the birds-of-prey show and demonstrations as part of the “Zeitsprung” program. For the latest information, visit: www.burg-altena.de During the dark winter months, the castle shines in a wonderful glow as the outer walls facing the Lenne River, the towers, and the inner courtyards are artfully illuminated. The Advent season kicks off with the Winter Spectacle: The castle by torchlight, Christmas scents, and a festive mood create a magical atmosphere

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Burgrestaurant Altena The restaurant at Burg Altena offers a wide variety of dishes. Medieval banquets are available for groups of 25 or more. For more information, contact: Burgrestaurant Altena, Phone: 02352 / 548 86

95Historic Park (Weyhe Park)

In 1843, King Frederick William IV of Prussia commissioned his head gardener, Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe, to design a public park for the Burgberg of Altena. The hill was beautified with promenade paths, viewpoints, and accompanying plantings of tree-lined avenues and clusters of trees. Weyhe drew inspiration from the style of the English landscape garden. On the side facing the Lenne River, the rugged rock formations, combined with clusters of trees and the layout of the paths, offer surprising views of the landscape. However, the park had become overgrown due to insufficient maintenance. For several years now, extensive measures have been underway to make the park attractive to visitors once again. For example, information signs have been installed, and paths and stairs have been renovated. A new playground is being built below the restaurant’s veranda.

Duration of Visit: You should allow about one and a half to two hours for a visit to the Burg Altena museums. A tour of the Burg Altena museums and the German Wire Museum takes about three to four hours—including a break at the castle restaurant. A particularly good value is the combo ticket, which includes a ride on the adventure elevator and admission to the Burg Altena Museums and the German Wire Museum.

The Burg Altena Museums are a key stop on the Valley Route of the European Route of Industrial Heritageand a highlight of WasserEisenLand—Industrial Heritage in Südwestfalen.

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