Blankenstein Castle

Burg Blankenstein stands on a south-facing slope above the Ruhr in Hattingen. The castle was begun in 1227 by Truchsess Ludolf von Bönen on orders of Count Adolf I of the Mark. It took sixteen years to reach its first completed form and was enlarged over the next two centuries. By the 15th century it ranked among the strongest fortresses in the county. After Spanish occupation in 1614 and later neglect, only the main tower and parts of the enclosing wall survived demolition in 1662. The ruins were bought in 1860 by Gustav von Stein, who rebuilt sections and installed a factory. In 1922 the city of Bochum took ownership, but high maintenance costs led to plans for an alternative use. Between 1957 and 1959 most 19th-century buildings were removed, leaving only a few remnants alongside the medieval tower. Today the standing tower still offers a wide view across Bochum and Kemnader Lake. Visitors walk through the remaining stone structures and along the curtain wall. The tower’s interior is accessible and leads to an open viewing platform. From here the Ruhr valley and the lake stretch out below. The site sits within a quiet wooded landscape, a short distance from Hattingen’s old town.