Lauenstein Castle is a Renaissance gem in the Eastern Ore Mountains, built on the foundations of a 13th-century fortress perched on a steep rocky spur. Today it houses the Eastern Ore Mountains Museum, and walking through its more than 30 historic rooms feels like stepping back in time.

The setting is spectacular — the castle towers over Lauenstein, a district of Altenberg, with its triangular layout combining a spacious farm courtyard, gatehouse and Baroque garden into a picturesque whole. In summer the surrounding greenery and views over the Ore Mountains invite longer walks, while in winter the region is known for its skiing conditions, and the castle takes on a dramatic, almost fairy-tale look under snow.

• Altenberg / Lauenstein — on foot or by car, time depends on starting point, easy route
• Hiking trails of the Eastern Ore Mountains pass near the castle, allowing visitors to combine sightseeing with hiking

• The castle has functioned as a museum since 1980, following extensive restoration work carried out from the 1970s onward
• Weddings can be held in the Coat of Arms Hall (Wappensaal)
• Since 2019 the castle has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Ore Mountain Mining Region/Krušnohoří

Interesting fact: during the Second World War, the most valuable holdings of the Hamburg State and University Library were hidden in the castle's cellar vaults; part of the collection ended up in St. Petersburg before finally returning to Germany in 1991.