レイヤーズワイラーの洞窟・トップ6

The path to the rock is steep, rocky and not easy to walk. You should not be afraid of heights on the rock. Once you are at the top, you will be rewarded with a very beautiful view of the Waldeck castle ruins. Surefootedness and sturdy shoes are recommended.

In this region (Northern Vosges) there are a number of interesting castle ruins. My personal preference goes to the Château du Falkenstein (described in another walking route). But this Château du Ramstein is also a place that you should not miss. NOTE: there are two ruins with exactly the same name! This is about the castle that is located in Baerenthal. The other Château de Ramstein is located 100 km to the south in Scherwiller. We visited this castle during a beautiful 8 km walk through Baerenthal. The castle was built around 1292 by the lords of Windstein on a high sandstone rock of 292 meters and destroyed in 1335 by Strasbourg troops. Not much remains of the building. Only parts of the mansion, doors, stairs and two cavemen's rooms are still visible. The ruins have only been open to the public for a few years and are very well secured.

There is a large seating area under the trees at the foot of the castle. An ideal place for a snack break

Waldeck Castle is a medieval castle built at the end of the 13th century for the Duke of Lorraine. The site is accessed by a path that starts from the Etang de Waldeck, a panoramic pond that is reached by the hamlet of Bannstein. The castle is made up of three rocky outcrops, each housing a different fortification. The most impressive is the southern one, where you can admire the remains of a crenellated tower and a Gothic vault. The castle offers a panoramic view of the surrounding forest and the plain of Alsace. You can also explore the underground rooms, stairways and cisterns that bear witness to the castle's past life. Waldeck Castle is a historical and natural treasure that will enchant you with its romantic atmosphere.

On the edge of Lorraine, nestled in the arms of its mighty citadel, lies the fortified town of Bitche. Today, the town, with a population of 5,000, owes its founding to the strategic nature of the rock that overlooks it and has been fortified since the 12th century. The town of Bitche has remained true to its military destiny and has experienced an extraordinary history marked by events that have shaken it, but above all, have left it wounded. The citadel, whose sharp lines rise above the town's rooftops, seems to have emerged from ancient times, defying the assaults of the elements and oblivion. One recognizes the characteristic lines of the genius of Vauban, its architect, even though it was rebuilt during the 18th century, reflecting the constraints of its unique geographical location. The citadel has witnessed major turning points in history, from the French Revolution to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to the end of World War II. It has been a listed monument since 1979 and is preserved to remind us that peace ultimately prevailed only at the price of painful trials and will now hopefully remain permanently preserved. https://www.citadelle-bitche.com/DE/Die-Festung/Beschreibung.html

The Bitche fortifications, which were never conquered, are very interesting

There are three beautiful rocks on the ascent to the Kantelkopf, of which the middle one offers a view that you have to climb.

Even in bad weather like today, the citadel is worth seeing.