Gräfenstein Castle
| Gräfenstein Castle | |
|---|---|
Burg Gräfenstein, Merzalber Schloss  | |
| Merzalben | |
The heart of Gräfenstein Castle with its inner main gate  | |
| Site information | |
| Type | rock castle | 
| Code | DE-RP | 
| Condition | ruins, partially restored | 
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 49°14′28″N 7°45′24″E / 49.2411°N 7.7566°E | 
| Height | 447 m above sea level (NN) | 
| Site history | |
| Built | 1237 | 
| Materials | rusticated ashlar | 
Gräfenstein Castle (German: Burg Gräfenstein) is a ruined rock castle about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the village of Merzalben in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is in the county of Südwestpfalz within the Palatine Forest and is often called Merzalber Schloss ("Merzalben Castle"). It is built on a rock plateau 12 metres (39 ft) high at an elevation of 447 metres (1,467 ft) above sea level.