


I visited this castle in 2002.
Bernstein Castle lies west of the village of Dambach-la-Ville in the Bas-Rhin province in France. This area
is also known as the Northern Alsace or the Middle Vosges.
Bernstein Castle is built on a granite rocky outcrop, on an altitude of 562 meters. It is first mentioned
between 1163 and 1179 when a Thietmar is Lord of Bernstein. The castle is taken in 1227 by the bishop of
Strasbourg. It is inhabited until the 16th century, then abandoned. The castle is composed of a pentagonal
keep, which protects the accommodation of the Lord, and of a square tower sheltering the vault. Beneath
the castle is a bailey. There is an underground cistern in the southwestern corner of a second enclosure,
built in the 15th century, next to the bailey.
This is a nice one, offering great views of the surrounding lands. You can climb the keep.


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