Hartenstein combines castle history with a protected Mulde valley landscape. Stein Castle is a partially late-Romanesque castle complex in the Zwickau Mulde Valley.
History
In the upper castle of Stein Castle, the museum presents the history of Hartenstein Castle and Stein Castle. The Stein Castle Museum displays historical weapons, mail and plate armour, legal artefacts, an executioner’s sword and instruments of torture. The upper castle courtyard and the battlements offer views across the castle complex and the Hartenstein Forest. The old market square is also home to the “Weißes Roß” inn, a historic half-timbered building dating from 1625.
Nature
The protected landscape extends from Stein Castle through the Mulde Valley to the Prinzenhöhle cave; the core of this landscape is the Hartensteiner Wald nature reserve. It includes distinctive rocky cliffs, including Knoblauchfelsen and Prinzenhöhle. Large forested areas surround Hartenstein, and marked hiking trails provide access to the landscape.
Getting Around
Hartenstein can be reached via the Hartenstein exit of the A72, by bus and by the Erzgebirgsbahn railway. There are 100 kilometres of signposted hiking trails in the area around Stein Castle and Hartenstein railway station. The Mulde Cycle Route passes Stein Castle. A rocky but secured path past the “Zur Prinzenhöhle” forester’s lodge leads to the Prinzenhöhle cave.
Leisure
The accessible Prinzenhöhle cave is around 18 metres long and is located in the Poppenwald forest north of Hartenstein. It was hewn into the rock as a medieval miners’ tunnel. Hartenstein Adventure Pool has a 53-metre water slide, two diving towers, three pools, a baby pool, a large sunbathing lawn, and sports and play facilities.
Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Hartenstein can continue their accommodation search afterwards.
