Falkenstein Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Pfronten, Germany.
Falkenstein Castle consists of stone ruins perched at 1277 meters elevation in the Allgäu Alps, making it Germany's highest fortress. The remains reveal masonry from different construction periods, from medieval foundations to later modifications.
Count Meinhard II of Tyrol built the castle between 1270 and 1280 to secure his territory against the Duchy of Bavaria. In 1646, it was deliberately destroyed by Tyrolean authorities to prevent Swedish Protestant forces from occupying it.
The name Falkenstein only became common in the 15th century, probably because of the castle's unusual position on the rock; the original name was Castrum Pfronten. The site is a ruin, unroofed and without interior rooms, so what visitors experience today is the exposed masonry and the view over the Vilstal and the peaks of the Tannheimer Group.
Reaching the ruins requires a demanding mountain hike that calls for good fitness and sturdy footwear. The trail crosses Alpine meadows and becomes challenging, particularly during winter months.
Ludwig II bought the ruin in 1883 and had a road and a water line built to the summit in 1884, but no castle work ever began. The bedroom he kept redesigning, finally with stained glass and a mosaic dome, survives only as an oil painting and a model in the King Ludwig II Museum on Herrenchiemsee.
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