Bernstein Castle

Bernstein Castle, locally known as Château du Bernstein or Burg Bernstein, lies west of the village of Dambach-la-Ville in the Bas-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Northern Alsace or the Middle Vosges.

Bernstein Castle was built on a granite rocky outcrop, on an altitude of 562 meters. It was first mentioned between 1163 and 1179 when a Thietmar is Lord of Bernstein. The castle was taken in 1227 by the bishop of Strasbourg. It was inhabited until the 16th century, then abandoned.

The castle is composed of a polygonal 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. It is freely accessible, but you will have to make a 40-minute hike from the nearest car-park to reach it.

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