Friedberg Castle, Castle ruin in Meilen, Switzerland
Friedberg Castle is a ruin perched on a hilltop above Meilen overlooking Lake Zurich. The stone walls and tower remains sit on steep terrain and show how the fortification used the landscape for defense.
The castle was built between 1257 and 1264 as a border fortress between Bavaria and Swabia. Later it served as a customs checkpoint and administrative center until conflicts and changing politics led to its abandonment.
The name Friedberg comes from the noble family who built it and gave the area its identity. Today, visitors walking through the site notice the remaining walls and tower structures that shaped how people lived in this hilltop community.
The site is reachable on foot with a short walk through the forest from Meilen village center. Visit on dry days as the path becomes slippery after rain.
The castle controlled an important trade route and monitored the flow of goods between regions as much as it guarded borders. This economic role made it as much a trading stronghold as a military fortress.
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