Château de Freundstein, Medieval castle in Goldbach-Altenbach, France
Château de Freundstein is a castle ruin at an elevation of about 950 meters in the southern Vosges, with surviving wall sections and defensive loopholes. The remains allow visitors to see the construction style and defensive design of the medieval fortification.
The castle was first documented in 1297 and was held jointly by Murbach Abbey and Strasbourg bishops. Over time it passed to the Waldner family, who used it as a stronghold for several centuries.
The fortification shows medieval military architecture of Alsace and marked the boundary between Murbach Abbey lands and Strasbourg bishop territory. Visitors can understand the strategic location and see how the structure helped control the region.
The terrain is uneven and requires proper footwear for the mountain path hike. Visitors should proceed carefully since the stone structures are partially unstable and need careful navigation.
During World War I, the French military transformed these medieval ruins into an observation post, which led to repeated German artillery attacks. The scars from the bombardment are still visible on the stone structures today.
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