Spangenberg Castle (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Spangenberg Castle is the partially rebuilt ruin of a rock castle in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies in the Palatine Forest above the Elmstein valley near the village of Erfenstein, but is actually on the forest estates belong to the town of Neustadt an der Weinstraße, or more precisely, the village of Lachen-Speyerdorf. Together with the neighbouring castle of Erfenstein, it is linked to the legend of the Leather Bridge.
Spangenberg Castle seen from Erfenstein Castle to the north
A rock castle is a type of medieval castle that directly incorporates natural rock outcrops into its defences to such an extent that the rock formations define the structure of the castle. Topographically, rock castles are classified as hill castles.
Castello di Mussomeli in Sicily
Castello della Pietra in Vobbia, Liguria
The gateway to Rotenhan Castle, which was entirely hewn out of the sandstone
Spangenberg Castle (Palatinate Forest), with the upper ward on the rock and the lower ward in front of it