Château de Dreistein, Medieval castle ruins in Ottrott, France.
Château de Dreistein is a medieval castle ruin in Ottrott composed of three separate fortifications built on rocky outcrops. The entire structure was built from pink sandstone quarried from the Vosges mountains and spreads across multiple natural stone formations.
The castle complex was built in the 13th century and evolved into two distinct sections over time. It was destroyed in the 17th century during the military conflicts of that era.
The site sat at the boundary between French and German territories for centuries, which is reflected in its bilingual place names and construction style. Visitors can see how the three separate fortifications were positioned to watch over the valley below.
The ruins are only reachable by hiking trails maintained by the Vosges Club, which demand moderate physical effort. Wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water, as the trek requires several hours walking through natural terrain.
The name Dreistein comes from medieval German and means three stones, referring to the three separate fortifications on the rocky peaks. This naming convention shows how precisely medieval builders described their constructions.
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