Frœnsbourg Castle

Frœnsbourg Castle, locally known as Château du Frœnsbourg (in French) or Frönsburg/Freundsburg (in German), lies in the woods east of the village of Niedersteinbach, in the Bas-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Northern Alsace or the Northern Vosges.

Frœnsbourg Castle was first mentioned in 1269. It probably already existed in 1235, when an Eberhard von Frundesberg residing near Fleckenstein Castle, was mentioned. Until the 1340s the Frœnsbourg family was the sole owner of the castle. After that parts of it were owned by several others, amongst them a Reinhard von Sickingen. Because Reinhard became a robber knight, the castle was besieged in 1349.

The castle was restored and offered to Count Palatine Rupert I in 1358. Only a year later it was again destroyed by the Bishop of Strasbourg, Jean de Lichtenberg. After that, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, banned its reconstruction. 

In the 2nd part of the 15th century the castle ruin passed to the Lords of Fleckenstein. They rebuilt Frœnsbourg Castle in 1481 but it was abandoned during the 16th century. In 1677 it was finally torn down by French troops led by the cavalry general Joseph de Montclar.

The semi-troglodyte Frœnsbourg Castle was built on a 40 m high, narrow sandstone spur, divided into 2 by a fault in the rock. There are several rooms, stairs and cisterns to explore.

 It is freely accessible. A very nice castle ruin on a great location.

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