Right, a view of the palas of Freienstein. Some restoration work has prevented this section from collapsing.
There are a number of legends and stories surrounding Freienstein, including a story of how the lords of the castle, without the people in the area knowing, returned to paganism, creating a golden calf to worship. When this was exposed, the lords buried this idol deep in the fortress where it remains lost to this day. Another story relates how a great treasure remains hidden underground, but it is guarded by two gigantic dogs.
Left, a view of the palas looking north. The area between the palas and the wall below is the outer ward.
Right, the palas (left) and chapel (right) behind the outer ring wall.
Left, a section of the crumbling outer ring wall (right) with another wall designed to enhance the defenses below the palas. Note the small entrance to gain access to the outer ward.
Right, a view within the palas, including a large structural support for the shield wall (right).
Left, an excellent view of the palas, showing the several levels and the view to Gammelsbach below. There was originally four levels to the palas.
There are several items of interest here. First, one can see the support for arches at the corner and just above right of the lower right window. This indicates that at least part of the floor, if not all, was stone rather than wood. Another point of interest is the difference between the heights of the two sets of windows between the first and second level. The ground level is clearly one to almost two feet shorter, and the base of each has received a layer of concrete. This implies a debris field, still unsifted and unexcavated, within the palas. But while it would be tempting to want to search this debris field, it must be remembered that the castle slowly collapsed from disuse. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that anything of value would be found in the debris layer.
A view of the palas (center and left) with part of the shield wall on the right. The jagged section is the portion of the wall that has collapsed.
Below, another view towards the palas (right) and the chapel (left). Some schematics of the castle still show the portion of the shield wall, here missing in the forground, extant.
Below, the heavy duty tie rod used in vain to hold part of the shield wall together. The plate is about one and a half foot in diameter.
