The lovely Altena castle is located high up, overlooking the old wire-drawer town. The main attraction is the museum of the County of Mark. It provides an insight with regard to the battles, hunting ceremonies, table delights of the knights and noblemen and life of the crafstmen and peasants.

The adventure elevator offers a direct, convenient connection between the city centre and the Altena castle. It is also much more than an energy conserving  alternative for the 20-minute walk. Multi media adventure gates make old sagas alive again and put you in the right mood for a visit to the castle.

As early as 1912, Altena teacher Richard Schirrman established the first permanent youth hostel worldwide and founded the German Youth Hostel Association. This concept was then adopted around the globe. The Global Youth Hostel Museum in the castle reflects the history of the youth hostel.

The citizen's castle in Altena's town centre is meeting point, community centre and venue. It is open from Tuesday to Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursday from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.  It can also be hired by Altenau societies, organisations and citizens.

Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox churches besides a mosque can be found in Altena. Not all of them serve their original purpose and many of them have their own tale to tell. That is why they have earned their own guided tour.

On the foot of the Burg mountain, the town streches along the river Lenne, like a chain of pearls. Altena's town centre and its pedestrian zone are not dominated by retail store chains. They have a surprising number of small shops with service and a wide range of products.

Mr. Selve must have been a respectable man, otherwise his employees would not have erected a memorial in his honour. As a pioneer he took up the cause of employee benefits, housing for the working class and schools. The memorial is located on the corner of the Lüdenscheider-and Rahmedestraße, close to the A2 hiking trail and it offers splendid views of the Lenne valley.        

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The saga of Saint Einhard mentions a well on the Klusenberg, that would have the power to make both humans and animals fertile. In the middle of the wood, on the A1 is where you will find a walled-in well, called Steinsbörnchen. The real well, however, is located further up, in the rock and hardly visible.

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