The castle occupies a small sandstone eminence on the northern flank of the Kienberg, 675 metres above sea level. It was built illegally, shortly before 1262, by Albrecht Beger, a minister (knight-serf/non-noble knight) of the bishopric of Strasbourg, on land belonging to the town of Obernai.
In 1289, King Rudolph of Habsburg had to intervene to regularize the situation: the «Bergfels» was returned to Bourcard Beger with the agreement of Obernai. Nothing is known about the castle until 1434; it is then a fief of empire and it is said to be in ruins – “die zarge Birkenveltz”, “the ruin Birkenfels” – without being able to define from what date. In 1441, the Begers concluded a Castral Peace (co-ownership) for two of their castles: Geispolsheim and Schwarzenberg. There is no mention of Birkenfels, which suggests that he is still in ruins. A squire was mentioned there in 1465\. Birkenfels is again described as ruined in 1521 and it does not appear to have been rebuilt thereafter. Archaeolog

Monument historique, Château, hôtel urbain, palais, manoir

Access: Parking at the crossroads of the Bloss where cross the D 854 going to Mont Sainte-Odile and the D 426 going from Barr to Mont Sainte-Odile. From the crossroads, walk along the path (green ring towards Birkenfels) that joins the marked route of the blue cross leading to the castle.