Hohenbaden Castle (Old Castle)

Hohenbaden Castle, known locally as the Old Castle (Altes Schloss), towers above the spa town of Baden-Baden in Germany's Black Forest. It was the ancestral seat of the Margraves of Baden, the family that gave its name to the whole region. Today the sprawling ruin is free to explore, and the view from its tower over Baden-Baden, the Rhine plain and, on clear days, the Vosges Mountains in France is one of the best things to do in Baden-Baden.

Over 900 Years of History

Margrave Hermann II began building the upper castle around 1100 on the slope of the Battert rock, and from 1112 the family called themselves "of Baden." Around 1400, Margrave Bernhard I added a Gothic lower castle; at its height the complex is said to have had about 100 rooms. In 1479 the court moved down to the New Castle in town, and the old fortress became a residence for widowed margravines until a fire largely destroyed it in 1599. The ruin has been preserved since the 1830s and is now cared for by the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg.

What to See

• The keep: climb it free of charge for a panoramic view over the town, Mount Merkur and the Rhine valley.
• The Knights' Hall: a roofless Gothic hall with tall window openings, the most atmospheric part of the ruin.
• The wind harp: a 4.1-meter (13-foot) Aeolian harp with 120 strings, installed in 1999, that plays eerie tones when the wind blows.
• The Battert cliffs just above the castle, popular with hikers and climbers.

Opening Hours and Admission

As of October 2026, the castle grounds are open during daylight hours and admission is free. In extreme weather (ice, snow, thunderstorms or storm warnings) all or part of the site may be closed. A restaurant with a beer garden in the courtyard is open year-round, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday to Sunday and holidays 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; check its website for updates.

How to Get There

The castle is north of Baden-Baden's center on the road toward Ebersteinburg (address: Alter Schloßweg 10). According to the site operator, it is not served by public transportation, so either drive, take a taxi or hike up from town. Free parking for cars and RVs is a short walk away. Baden-Baden itself is easy to reach by train: the station lies on the main Rhine Valley line with ICE connections from Frankfurt and Karlsruhe; from the station, a taxi up to the castle is the simplest option.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially at sunset or in fall colors. Allow 1 to 2 hours, wear sturdy shoes and combine the castle with a stroll through Baden-Baden's spa district, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Great Spa Towns of Europe."