Museen Burg Altena

About the museum

Burg Altena in the Sauerland dates from the 12th century and was the ancestral seat of the Counts of Mark. From 1907, District Administrator Fritz Thomée drove its reconstruction, which the Aachen architect Frentzen carried out until 1915 according to a romanticized image of the Middle Ages. In 1916 the museum founded in 1875, the Museum für Orts- und Heimatkunde im Süderlande, the oldest regional history museum in Westphalia, moved into the castle as the Museum der Grafschaft Mark.

In 1914 the teacher Richard Schirrmann set up the world's first youth hostel in the castle. Its rooms with original furnishings – dormitories for boys and girls and two common rooms – were set up as the Museum Weltjugendherberge (World Youth Hostel Museum) at the end of the 1950s. Over the decades further collections were added, including a blacksmith museum, the Deutsches Drahtmuseum (German Wire Museum), founded in 1965 and later moved to its own building, and a hiking museum.

Today these areas form a joint permanent exhibition of the Museen Burg Altena, which is run by the Märkischer Kreis. The tour leads from geology and castle building through armor, weapons, sacred art, and domestic culture to iron production and wire making in the region; the World Youth Hostel is part of it. The upper castle courtyard can now also be reached via the Erlebnisaufzug (adventure elevator), which leads from the pedestrian zone through a tunnel into the castle hill. Since April 2024, admission to the museums has been free.

Highlights

• Original furnishings of the world's first youth hostel from 1914, with beds to try out
• Armor, military and hunting weapons of the County of Mark
• Keep with a view and the Angstloch (dungeon hole)
• Dungeon with themes such as witch persecution and the Vehmic court
• Knights' play corner with dress-up
• Adventure elevator through the castle hill (paid)

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung der Museen Burg Altena – Tour through the castle from geology and castle building through knightly life, weapons, sacred art, and domestic culture to the iron and wire history of the County of Mark.
• Weltjugendherberge – Original rooms of the first youth hostel from 1914 with dormitories and common rooms, plus a multimedia table on the history of youth hostels.

Founded

1875

Operated by

Märkischer Kreis

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the Museen Burg Altena on a "Pay what you want" basis (donation box). The adventure elevator and booked tours are paid.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The adventure elevator leads accessibly to the upper castle courtyard, but the historic castle with its many stairs is not accessible; only the chapel can be reached at almost ground level. Walkers (rollators) are allowed in the exhibition rooms, and many rooms have seating. Accessible restrooms in the castle and at the entrance of the adventure elevator. Information in Easy Language on the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's tours and workshops such as knight's test, treasure hunt, or lantern tour (ages 4–14, depending on the program), also as a children's birthday party. Knights' play corner with chain mail and helmets to put on; in the World Youth Hostel, two beds may be used to try out. Strollers are allowed in the castle courtyard but not in the exhibition (storage space in front of Room 9). Baby changing area next to the women's restroom. Playground "Wulfsegge" directly at the castle wall, plus geocaching, a nature trail, and an herb garden.

Getting there & parking

The fastest way to arrive is via the adventure elevator, which climbs 80 meters of elevation to the upper castle courtyard in 30 seconds. People with limited mobility can be driven by car or taxi right into the castle courtyard (no parking).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Castle restaurant with a balcony and beer garden in the upper castle courtyard. Museum shop (also accessible without a museum visit) and another shop in the Erlebnisstollen (adventure tunnel). Backpacks, large bags, and umbrellas are locked in the coat check. Picnic tables next to the keep.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in the original common room of the first youth hostel (dates through the city of Altena), church weddings in the castle chapel; celebrations in the castle restaurant.

Plan your visit