Frauenstein Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Eastern Ore Mountains, Germany
Frauenstein is a medieval castle complex sitting on a 680-meter granite rock formation in the mountains. The site features thick stone walls and a distinctive residential tower from the 13th century known as Dicker Merten.
Construction started around 1200 as a border fortress between Meissen and Bohemia to protect important trade routes and silver mining. The castle fell into ruin after being abandoned in 1588.
The museum inside displays local crafts and everyday objects that reflect how people lived in the Ore Mountains region. You can see the tools and items that were part of daily life here for centuries.
You can visit the castle ruins from May through October, Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 4 PM through the museum entrance. Wear sturdy shoes as the paths are uneven and the entire site sits on steep rocky ground.
Cannonballs from a 1438 siege are still visible and embedded in the walls today. These impact marks clearly show how fierce that attack on the fortress was.
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