The tower stairs

These are the stairs to go up to the top of the castle tower. 

Cool, huh?

The first youth hostel

Richard Schirrmann, the guy with the idea for youth hostels, acquired a castle in 1912 and turned it into the very first one.

The idea was that city dwelling young people would have the opportunity to get out into the fresh air of nature.  They would get exercise and build character.

The youngsters would be part of the youth movement and carry a club book saying when and where they had stayed.  Accommodations would be inexpensive as most of the chores would be done by the youth themselves. 
There were rules to follow such as the distance that must be covered in a day (more than 15km) before one was allowed to stay at a hostel--and the stamps in your book would be the proof.

Ideally, young people would get out and explore their surroundings, make friends and become responsible citizens.  And it all started in a castle.

Burg Altena

Burg Altena's history goes back to the 1100s, but it hasn't been lived in as a castle since the early 1600s.

The rooms and towers here have also been used as a military garrison, a county jail, a hospital, and a youth hostel.

Pieces of all of these histories are left lying around for the visitors who climb up the mountain to see them.

Hohenlimburg castle

There is a very enthusiastic guide at the Hohenlimburg castle.  He is full of information and eager to be of help.  Whether that's taking a photo for you, opening a gate to make a better picture frame, telling a story, giving a few facts, or unlocking the well.  Generally, he's there to talk to you.

He can tell you that the beginnings of the castle were in the 1200s, but that what is seen today is mostly from the 1700s and after.  But what he really likes to talk about is the metal industry museum housed in one of the buildings. 

Visitors can walk around the castle grounds, look out over the walls and tour the living quarters.

Nothing of it is super exciting, just a look at how people used to live.

The oddest thing at the castle is the black hand.  The story is that in order to prosecute someone, the complainant had to be present in court.  A murder victim could not do so easily, so a hand from the victim was used instead.  The tower of the castle, it seems, used to have many of these witnesses inside.  But it was struck by lightening and much of it was destroyed in a fire.  This one hand remained.  Today it is a main draw for all of those who have a curiosity for the paranormal, and many stories go around about the owner of the hand and other sad castle dwellers.