The Altenstein Castle, located in Franconia, was once the seat of the lords of Stein zu Altenstein. The castle had its origins in the Teufelsstein, a rock castle that stood below Lichtenstein Castle. The Steins of Lichtenstein had their seat at the castle of Lichtenstein, while the Altensteins became vassals of the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg.
The castle, mentioned indirectly in 1225 and directly in 1231, developed into a Ganerbenburg, occupied and managed by several branches of the family. It had a significant role in the early record of joint inheritance. The Altensteins established a small territory around the castle during the 14th and 15th centuries, consolidating their scattered lands.
The castle faced damages during the Peasants' War in 1525, but in 1549, Emperor Charles V granted the high court jurisdiction to the Altensteins. The family faced a decline in fortunes and conflicts, including the execution of William of Stein zu Altenstein in 1567. The castle was sacked during the Thirty Years' War, and the family eventually moved to a new schloss in Pfaffendorf.
The castle fell into ruin over time and was donated to the district of Hassberge in 1972. The site underwent renovation and development, becoming accessible to visitors. The castle ruins, located on unstable subsoil, require ongoing stabilization measures. The castle chapel, originally built in 1438, had to be rebuilt and underwent further changes over the years.
Today, the Altenstein Castle is part of the Haßberge Castle Educational Path and offers a circular walk around the inner ward, allowing visitors to explore the ruins and previously inaccessible areas.
References:The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.