France: Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg

This spectacular castle/fortress is in many way reminiscent of Mont St Michel – it sits on a single mountain hill rising high above the surrounding plains of Alsace, the sea of grapevines. The first fortress on this rock was built on 774 by Charlemagne, later it became an Abbey. The castle changed hands through the ages eventually becoming the property of the Holy Roman Empire, just to be completely destroyed by the Swedish army in the 16th century. It lay in ruins for ages before Wilhelm II made it the western centerpiece of the German empire and it was completely restored. The castle is built on improbable rocks with each tower climbing higher into the sky, panoramic views abound.