Castle Katzenstein 1 - 3
Castle Administration The Walter Family
Tel: 0 73 26 - 91 96 56
Fax: 0 73 26 - 96 35 24

89561 Dischingen - Katzenstein
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Katzenstein. "The administrative district of Heidenheim is ahead of the field" said the district administrator, Hermann Mader, yesterday during the opening of UNESCO's 12th Swabian Alb Geopark information centre – at Katzenstein Castle. The district administrator went on to say that four of the twelve information centres are located within the administrative district of Heidenheim. These four tourist platforms are run in Gerstetten, in Steinheim am Albuch, in Hürben at the Charlottenhöhle (caves) and since yesterday, at Katzenstein Castle - at the entrance to the sightseeing tour through the castle.

District administrator Mader pointed to the fact that the Swabian Alb has earned the sign indicating the Geopark, the symbol with the shell of an ammonite and also came through the examination carried out by specialists from abroad with flying colours. It is now necessary to pay attention to the financing since the district is withdrawing from its role as financial backer. What form the organisation of the Geopark will take is to be shortly determined announced district administrator Mader. Katzenstein Castle is a flagship of tourism in the administrative district of Heidenheim.

In a speech given by Dischingen's deputy mayor, Karl-Heinz Pappe, it was highlighted that not only do tourists find a unique landscape with special geological sites, but also buildings of cultural history. In order for everybody to be able to understand these values and for these values to be accessible to everyone, eleven Geopark information centres have already been opened. Thanks to Michael and Roswitha Walter, the twelfth centre could be opened at Katzenstein Castle. Through the Walters, new life has been breathed into this Staufer castle, and this building and showpiece of cultural history has once again been made accessible to the public. Thus, in the eastern part of the Swabian Alb, the chance for everybody to experience the fascination of the region has been made possible.

Bernd Hitzler, member of the regional parliament, pointed out that those times of horror stories about the castle and its inhabitants are now over. The Walters are constantly improving the appeal of the castle. The member particularly thanked district administrator Hermann Mader for his continual efforts with regard to boosting tourism.

Günter Höschtle from the Ostalbkreis district administrator's office stressed that Katzenstein Castle combines geology and cultural history.

In accordance with UNESCO's definition, a Geopark contains a geological, culturally historic, archaeological and ecological legacy whose meaning, rarity or beauty are characteristic of a landscape. These features should be made accessible to tourists and/or the public. Recognition as a national Geopark, together with support from both the Federal Ministry for Education and Research and UNESCO, mean that the profile of the Swabian Alb as an outdoor experience and economic region is brought out/to the fore particularly well.

The Swabian Alb is an example of how a balance between man and the planet earth can be achieved. The influence of nature on this distinctive region should – in the future too - thus consolidate geological, cultural and economic elements into a lasting development.


Kurt R. Engler

The Geopark information centres

The following information is available at the Geopark information centres on:
~ offers at the Geoparks
~ the geology, flora and fauna of the Alb
~ Stone Age man
~ the striking of the meteorite on the Alb.
Each Geopark information centre, however, has its own special focus.