Is Hanstein Castle inhabited today?

No, it has stood as a ruin since the destruction of the Thirty Years' War and has never been permanently inhabited again.

When was Hanstein Castle built?

The present structure was begun in 1308 by Heinrich and Lippold von Hanstein, on the site of an earlier stronghold destroyed in 1070.

Can you go inside Hanstein Castle?

The site can be explored as an open ruin with accessible towers and walls, though no specific opening hours are given here.

Why is Hanstein Castle linked to the German border?

Its closeness to the former inner German border meant one of its towers was used as a watchtower by GDR border guards.

Hanstein Castle

Bornhagen

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Tickets and prices

Adult: €3.50
Child: €1.50
Reduced: €3

Prices and tickets on the château’s website

Where: Bornhagen

Hours and prices not verified at the source yet.Check on the official website

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Berlepsch Castlefrom €410 km

Sleep nearby

Burg Hanstein stands in Bornhagen (Landkreis Eichsfeld), in Thuringia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Adult admission costs 3.5 EUR. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Hanstein Castle rises above the Werra valley at Bornhagen in Thuringia and ranks among the largest castle ruins in central Germany. An earlier stronghold on this hilltop was destroyed in 1070 on the orders of King Henry IV, but the structure visible today was begun in 1308 by Heinrich and Lippold von Hanstein. Wars, especially the Thirty Years' War, left the walls in ruins without diminishing the scale of the site, which still shows towers, curtain walls and a knights' hall rebuilt in the 19th century. Long situated close to the inner German border, the ruin has since 1990 regained its role as an open historical site and walking destination.

Written from Hanstein Castle

What to know

The ruin stands on a hilltop above Bornhagen and is reached on foot from the village or from surrounding hiking trails.
This is an open-air ruin without a continuous roof, and the uneven ground calls for sturdy footwear.
A traditional medieval festival is held every year on the first weekend of August.
No opening hours, prices or accessibility details are available here, so it is worth checking locally before visiting.

Practical information

Opening hours

mars à octobre: 10h00-18h00
novembre: 10h00-16h00
décembre (weekends et jours fériés): 10h00-16h00
janvier à février: fermé sauf demande préalable

Annual closures : January to February (except by prior request)

Prices

Adult: €3.50
Child: €1.50
Reduced: €3

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Grounds accessible
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

People with reduced mobility may access the château grounds directly by car, subject to prior request to the commune or ticket office

Where this château is

Bornhagen · Landkreis Eichsfeld · Thüringen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

37318 Bornhagen-Rimbach

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

Get directions View on a map

Château phone number

+49 36081 67856

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The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.7 / 5from 2,553 Google reviews

Heritage status: Kulturdenkmal in Deutschland

In pictures

Frequently asked

Hanstein Castle: how much is admission?: Adult admission is €3.50. Child: €1.50. Reduced: €3.
Is Hanstein Castle inhabited today?: No, it has stood as a ruin since the destruction of the Thirty Years' War and has never been permanently inhabited again.
When was Hanstein Castle built?: The present structure was begun in 1308 by Heinrich and Lippold von Hanstein, on the site of an earlier stronghold destroyed in 1070.
Can you go inside Hanstein Castle?: The site can be explored as an open ruin with accessible towers and walls, though no specific opening hours are given here.
Why is Hanstein Castle linked to the German border?: Its closeness to the former inner German border meant one of its towers was used as a watchtower by GDR border guards.