Schlossberg literally means ‘castle on a mountain’ and it was constructed at Forbach around the 11th or 12th century. It is first mentioned in 1257 in a deed of gift in favour of the Collégiale Saint-Étienne in Hombourg-Haut. The feudal castle consisted of a square keep, a surrounding wall and a palace which was enlarged and fortified during the centuries that followed. In the 14th century, the building resembled a great palatial castle in the Renaissance style. The Saareck round tower was built in 1437, and the present-day octagonal tower dates from 1891. By the 17th century, the castle had been transformed and complemented by bastions. After the “Saareck” round tower was pillaged in 1591, the castle was restored only to be demolished definitively in 1634 by Marshal de la Force, on the orders of Richelieu and King Louis XIII.
After climbing the 118 steps, young and old alike will reach an altitude of 328 m. At this height, they will be able to enjoy an unrivalled panoramic view of the surrounding area.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.