Burg Alt-Hayingen

Burg Alt-Hayingen stands above the Lauter valley near Hayingen in the Reutlingen district. It is the remains of an Iron Age hilltop enclosure at 661 metres above sea level, also called Ringwall Alt-Hayingen. The site lies 300 metres from the ruined Maisenburg castle, between the villages of Indelhausen and Anhausen. The landscape drops steeply into the valley, giving the place a commanding view. The earthworks form part of a wider early Celtic cultural zone in southern Germany. Excavations since 2020 by the Baden-Württemberg State Office for Monument Preservation are uncovering traces of late Hallstatt settlement. The work is part of a long-term project funded by the German Research Foundation, linked to the nearby Heuneburg power centre. Finds from the 6th to 5th centuries BC confirm early Celtic occupation. The double ramparts and ditches on the western side and the stepped slope defences on the eastern side show how the defences were organised. Visitors walk along grassy ramparts that still rise several metres above the surrounding ground. The inner ring encloses the main stronghold, while the outer works form the forecourt. The site is quiet, with only the wind in the trees and distant valley sounds. From the highest point there are wide views over the Swabian Alb and towards the Heuneburg. Information boards explain the excavations and the early Celtic way of life.