Auerbach was defended by a dry moat, in essence a ditch with walls on either side. On one side the dry moat becomes extremely narrow, making it virtually impossible to set up siege engines within the moat to batter the wall to the inner ward. Moreover, by being so narrow any attackers that moved into the area would be concentrated and thus exposed to more effective defensive measures from above.
The windows at left are probably restored in the wall. However, they are patterned after the authentic windows that are still extant.
Right, the open area of the main palas showing the huge fireplace.
Left, a view into one of the subterranean levels of the castle. The ceiling was once a stone rib vault ceiling that has since collapsed. The poles are there to support the remnant of the vaults.
One of the banes of castles was lightning. Yes... lightning! Lightning strikes could easily shatter a massive fortress in ways that siege engines failed to do. Therefore, installing lightning rods (the slender wire next to the electrical wire pole) along the towers and highest elements of the structures has been necessary to protect them from natural devastation.
