Château de Frœnsbourg, Medieval rock castle in Lembach, France.
Château de Frœnsbourg sits on an isolated sandstone ridge with two main buildings and rooms carved directly into the rock face. The site stands at about 310 meters elevation and combines above-ground structures with chambers inside the stone.
Records first mention this fortress in 1235, with the Frundsperg brothers listed as owners in 1269. After destruction in 1349, it was rebuilt in 1358.
The rock-carved halls and staircases show medieval building methods that were used across the Alsace region. Visitors can see how craftsmen used the stone itself as their construction material.
The path to the ruins takes about 40 minutes through a forest trail from Frœnsbourg farm between Lembach and Obersteinbach. Sturdy footwear is needed since the path is steep and rocky in places.
The castle features a Gothic arch doorway dated to 1481 that still stands today. A notable aspect is the remains of a flying bridge system that once provided access to the main structure.
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