Ruine Pflindsberg, Medieval castle ruin in Altaussee, Austria.
Ruine Pflindsberg is a medieval castle ruin perched on a hilltop, with remains of a defensive tower, palace walls, and stone fortifications still visible. The surviving structures show the basic layout of a substantial fortress from the Middle Ages.
Archbishop Philip of Sponheim founded this fortress in 1250 to guard the nearby salt mines and secure control over the surrounding region. It later served as a prison and execution site before being abandoned.
Local stories speak of a shadowy figure that roams the ruins, connected to the castle's time as a place of confinement and punishment. These tales keep alive the memory of those held within its walls.
You can reach the ruins by following a marked forest trail that starts near Hotel Tyrol and leads through the Lichtersberg area toward Rambichl. The path is clearly signed and becomes steeper as it climbs the hillside.
The fortress was originally built to protect salt mining operations but was transformed into a prison and execution site over time. This shift from military defense to punishment tells the story of how the castle's purpose changed dramatically.
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